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Terribly sad news. I’ve just learned former #SCC Justice Peter Cory has died. He was a gentleman, unfailingly polite to counsel and reporters. Here’s the story I wrote on his exit from the bench. He later led an inquiry into deaths in Northern Ireland.
http://www.fact.on.ca/newpaper/ts990306.htm">https://www.fact.on.ca/newpaper/...
http://www.fact.on.ca/newpaper/ts990306.htm">https://www.fact.on.ca/newpaper/...
Peter Cory also led the inquiry into the wrongful conviction of Thomas Sophonow.
And he was a bomber pilot with the RCAF& #39;s 6 Bomber group. He flew 22 missions over Germany, but I couldn& #39;t get him to talk about it. ``Please. That& #39;s nothing special, compared to others who gave so much and did so much.& #39;& #39;
What he did remember is the name and home town of his mid-upper gunner who died in the war. A Newfoundlander, Cory says. One of his favourite books was E. Annie Proulx& #39;s Shipping News, which describes in loving detail his gunner& #39;s home province.
He was viewed back then by many academics as "the conscience of the court." And because of his gentle manner, and let& #39;s admit, sweater-looks, was often compared to Mr. Rogers. That made him laugh. He told me: "I always thought I was better looking than Mr. Rogers.& #39;& #39;
Between 3:30 and 4:30 each afternoon, Cory used to make a cookie run on the court& #39;s third floor, handing around a jar of shortbreads or chocolate chip biscuits to his colleagues. They told me it wasn& #39;t annoying. They loved that it made the austere place more collegial.
This may surprise you, but Peter Cory did not think the #SCC job was the peak of his career, nor the most important role in the judiciary.
Cory told me: "I think the trial judge is the most important entity in the whole system. It& #39;s the trial judge that demonstrates justice and fairness to the community, and that& #39;s of pre-eminent importance.& #39;& #39;
Cory once threw out a contempt of court citation against Toronto lawyer Harry Kopyto, and said judges ought to welcome criticism, that courts weren& #39;t fragile flowers that would wither in the heat of controversy.
