William Johnstone Ritchie
Sir William Johnstone Ritchie | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Chief Justice of Canada | |
| In office January 11, 1879 – September 25, 1892 | |
| Nominated by | Sir John A. Macdonald |
| Preceded by | William Buell Richards |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Henry Strong |
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada | |
| In office September 30, 1875 – January 11, 1879 | |
| Nominated by | Alexander Mackenzie |
| Preceded by | new office |
| Succeeded by | John Wellington Gwynne |
| 7th Chief Justice of New Brunswick | |
| In office 1865–1875 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Parker |
| Succeeded by | John Campbell Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1813 Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia |
| Died | September 25, 1892 (aged 78) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Resting place | Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Spouses | Martha Strang
(m. 1843; died 1847)Grace Vernon Nicholson
(m. 1856) |
Sir William Johnstone Ritchie (October 28, 1813 – September 25, 1892) was one of the first judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, and the second-longest serving chief justice of the court after Beverley McLachlin.
The Supreme Court under Ritchie continued to face many of the same criticisms as its predecessor, the Richards Court, including the concerns about the conduct of its justices, the excessive length and lack of clarity in its decisions, and significant delays in the publication of those decisions.