Passing of the Honorable Gérard V. La Forest
- ccilccdiwebsite
- Jul 7
- 1 min read
The Canadian Council on International Law (CCIL) extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the Honourable Gérard Vincent La Forest, C.C., K.C., former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Justice La Forest had a distinguished and remarkable career in academia, public service, and the judiciary. After more than a decade of research and teaching, he served as Assistant Deputy Attorney General of Canada, was a member of the Law Reform Commission of Canada, and later sat on the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. In 1985, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and served for more than 12 years.
Justice La Forest is regarded as one of the best international lawyers on the Supreme Court of Canada. CCIL acknowledged his profound contributions to the application of international law in Canada by awarding him the Read Medal in 2001. As CCIL’s highest distinction, the Read Medal is awarded to Canadians who have made a notable contribution to fostering the development, better understanding, or application of international law.
The CCIL community will remember Justice La Forest for his great intellect, his steadfast commitment to justice, and his impact on generations of jurists practicing international law in Canada and abroad.
Photo Credit: Michael Bedford, photographer
Supreme Court of Canada Collection