Creation and Beginnings of the Court
Current and Former Chief Justices
Current and Former Puisne Judges
About the Court
Judges of the Court
The Honourable Mr. Justice Roland Almon Ritchie
![[Photo - Roland Almon Ritchie]](/web/20061029064228im_/http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/_images/display/ritchie2-tn.jpg)
Roland Almon Ritchie was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 19, 1910. He
was the son of William Bruce Almon Ritchie and Lillian Stewart. After graduating
from the University of King's College with a B.A. in 1930, he went to Oxford
University, where he earned a further B.A. in 1932. He returned to Halifax
and was called to the bar in 1934. He practised law for a few years with Stewart,
Smith, MacKeen & Rogers, then enlisted in the armed forces and went overseas
during the Second World War. From 1941 to 1944, he served as Assistant Deputy
Judge Advocate with the Third Canadian Division. Upon his return to Canada,
he resumed his practice in Halifax and helped found the law firm of Daley,
Phinney & Ritchie. He also lectured on insurance law at Dalhousie University
for 12 years and acted as counsel to the royal commission on the terms of Newfoundland's
union with Canada in 1949. On May 5, 1959, he was appointed to the Supreme
Court of Canada. He served on the Court for 25 years, retiring on October 31,
1984. Justice Ritchie died on June 5, 1988, at the age of 77.
