As one of Canada’s most respected legal minds, Supreme Court Justice John Charles (Jack) Major ruled on some of our country’s most important decisions. The University of Lethbridge is proud to present Major with an honorary degree at its Spring 2022 Convocation.
The Honourable John Charles (Jack) Major served his province and his country with distinction for more than 50 years, first as a respected litigator and then as a judge who appointed himself with dignity and the utmost respect for those who appeared before him.
“Over the course of Mr. Major’s career, he made a lasting impression on the law and Canadian society as a whole,” says ULethbridge Chancellor Charles Weaselhead. “He ruled professionally, ethically and with a commitment to the law and democracy. We’re very excited to be able to recognize those contributions with an honorary degree.”
Major will be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at Spring 2022 Convocation Ceremony VI on Friday, June 3, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.
John Charles (Jack) Major
The Honourable John Charles (Jack) Major served as a Supreme Court Justice for 14 years.
Born and raised in Ontario, Major earned a commerce degree at Loyola College (Now Concordia University) before completing his law degree at University of Toronto Law School. He was called to the Alberta Bar in 1958 and began practicing law in Calgary with the Bennett Jones Verchere firm. By 1967, he was a senior partner in the practice and in 1972 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel.
In 1991, Major earned an appointment to the Alberta Court of Appeal, but it was short-lived as he was called to the Supreme Court of Canada in November 1992.
Major’s time on the Supreme Court was marked by many significant issues which greatly influenced Canadian law. Recognized as a superb jurist, he possessed an exemplary grasp of the law and ruled with great wisdom.
Major sat on more than 2,000 cases as a Supreme Court Justice and was the principal writer on 169 decisions. Some of the matters he presided over included assisted suicide, the death penalty and Quebec separation, leaving legacy interpretations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the terms on which a province could choose to leave Canada.
In 2008, Major was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada and, in 2012, was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.