Thibaudeau Rinfret
Encyclopedia
Thibaudeau Rinfret, PC
(June 22, 1879 – July 25, 1962) was a Canadian
jurist and Chief Justice of Canada
and acting Governor General of Canada
in 1952.
and McGill University
and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1901. He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court
in 1922 and to the Supreme Court of Canada
in 1924.
Rinfret was son of François-Olivier Rinfret and Albina Pominville. He was the brother of Fernand Rinfret
, Liberal politician and Montreal Mayor, and brother to Charles Rinfret, a prominent Montreal businessman.
In May 1933, his brother Charles died in an apparent suicide by jumping off a bridge in front of a passing train.http://www.jdgravenor.com/wordpress/index.php?tag=mayor
making the Supreme Court of Canada the final court of appeal in Canadian jurisprudence.
Rinfret was acting Governor General (or Administrator of the Government
) in 1952 after the departure of Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
and until Vincent Massey
could officially take his vice-regal post; during this time he proclaimed
Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada, following the death of King George VI
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(June 22, 1879 – July 25, 1962) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
jurist and Chief Justice of Canada
Chief Justice of Canada
The Chief Justice of Canada, like the eight puisne Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, is appointed by the Governor-in-Council . All nine are chosen from either sitting judges or barristers who have at least ten years' standing at the bar of a province or territory...
and acting Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
in 1952.
Personal life
Rinfret studied law at Université LavalUniversité Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1901. He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
in 1922 and to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
in 1924.
Rinfret was son of François-Olivier Rinfret and Albina Pominville. He was the brother of Fernand Rinfret
Fernand Rinfret
Louis Édouard Fernand Rinfret, PC was a Canadian politician.-Biography:He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the Montreal riding of St. James in a 1920 by-election. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1921, 1925, 1930, and 1935...
, Liberal politician and Montreal Mayor, and brother to Charles Rinfret, a prominent Montreal businessman.
In May 1933, his brother Charles died in an apparent suicide by jumping off a bridge in front of a passing train.http://www.jdgravenor.com/wordpress/index.php?tag=mayor
Professional career
Rinfret became Chief Justice on January 8, 1944, and served until his retirement on June 22, 1954. During his term as Chief Justice, Canada ended appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilJudicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
making the Supreme Court of Canada the final court of appeal in Canadian jurisprudence.
Rinfret was acting Governor General (or Administrator of the Government
Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
) in 1952 after the departure of Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis was a British military commander and field marshal of Anglo-Irish descent who served with distinction in both world wars and, afterwards, as Governor General of Canada, the 17th since Canadian...
and until Vincent Massey
Vincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
could officially take his vice-regal post; during this time he proclaimed
Proclamation of accession of Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II was proclaimed sovereign of each of the Commonwealth realms on 6 and 7 February 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, in the night between 5 February and 6 February, and while the Princess was in Kenya....
Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada, following the death of King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
.