Le feu sacré: l'héritage d'Antonio Lamer / The Sacred Fire - The Legacy of Antonio Lamer

"As this collection of essays demonstrates, Chief Justice Lamer had a profound effect on the development of many areas of Canadian law. His pioneering judgments helped define the rights of Canadians. Many aspects of our society, from Aboriginal rights, to language rights, to the rights of the criminal accused, would exist in a very different form were it not for his courage and leadership on the Bench."

-From the Foreword by the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada

Chief Justice Lamer's Impact on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer holds the distinction of serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada during two very significant moments of constitutional history - enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) and the Quebec Seccession Reference (1998). One of the longest-serving judges of his era, Chief Justice Lamer played an instrumental role in developing Canada's new culture of rights under the Charter.

In this first-ever collection of essays about Chief Justice Lamer, academics, former clerks, and members of the judiciary examine his legacy of Charter interpretation and the protection of Canadians' rights.

Explore Chief Justice Lamer's lengthy career, his personal conception of the law, and why he is recognized today as one of Canada's most influential judges. Essays cover:

• His strong commitment to the principle of fairness and respect for procedural compliance
• His determination to safeguard the rights of the accused
• The reasoning and effects of his landmark decisions, including the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Reference (1985), which helped define the scope of judicial power under the Charter
• Arguments surrounding his 1997 reference question about judicial independence and the remuneration of judges
• Why the Lamer Court was constantly scrutinized and criticized in a manner unknown to predecessors
• His lasting contributions to criminal, constitutional, and Aboriginal law

Special Features

• Detailed biographical essay by Michel Robert, Chief Justice Lamer's former law partner and current Chief Justice of Quebec
• Foreword by the Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada
• Papers in both English and French
• Chronology of key dates in Chief Justice Lamer's career
• Table of Chief Justice Lamer's judgments at the Supreme Court of Canada

Who Should Buy this Book?

• Legal academics seeking insight into the contributions of Chief Justice Lamer
• Constitutional practitioners interested in understanding the development of the Charter under the helm of the Lamer Court
• Members of the judiciary and Canadian bar looking for new perspectives on the administration of justice at the highest levels
• Historians, political scientists, and other academics researching Canada's legal history

"The office of Chief Justice of Canada is obviously of the highest importance to our justice system and yet, after spending an informal afternoon with someone who had occupied it, I was left with the impression that Chief Justice Lamer affirmed the humanity underlying it all."

-David Asper, Lawyer and businessman and co-counsel in the Milgaard Reference