Creation and Beginnings of the Court
Current and Former Chief Justices
Current and Former Puisne Judges
About the Court
Judges of the Court
The Right Honourable John Robert Cartwright, P.C., C.C., M.C.
![[Photo - John Robert Cartwright]](/web/20061029064219im_/http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/_images/display/pi_37.jpg)
John Robert Cartwright was born in Toronto, Ontario, on March 23, 1895. He
was the son of James Strachan Cartwright and Jane Elizabeth Young. After graduating
from Upper Canada College in 1912, he enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law School and
began his articles with Smith, Rae & Greer. He interrupted his studies
in 1914 to serve overseas with the armed forces during the First World War.
In 1915 he was wounded twice and for the following two years was an aide-de-camp
to three successive generals. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917. Upon
his return to Canada, he resumed his study of law. He was called to the bar
in 1920, then joined the firm of Smith, Rae & Greer in Toronto. In 1947
he was counsel for the Government of Canada in the prosecutions that resulted
from the findings of the Royal Commission on Spying Activities in Canada, which
had been chaired by judges Taschereau and Kellock. He was appointed to the
Supreme Court of Canada on December 22, 1949 and became its chief justice on
September 1, 1967. He served on the Supreme Court for 20 years and retired
on March 23, 1970. Chief Justice Cartwright died on November 24, 1979, at the
age of 84.
