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Beverley McLachlin
Judge

Beverley McLachlin

Famoose for

Becoming Canada’s first female chief justice.

First woman chief justice

Born
7 September 1943
Birthplace
Pincher Creek

More people

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Beverley McLachlin

Beverley McLachlin is a Canadian jurist and author who served as chief justice of Canada from 2000 to 2017.

Early life

Education

Studied philosophy and law at the University of Alberta.

Career

  1. 1969

    Legal practice

    Was called to the Alberta bar.

  2. 1974–1981

    Teaching

    Taught law at the University of British Columbia.

  3. 1989

    Supreme Court

    Joined the Supreme Court of Canada.

  4. 2000–2017

    Chief justice

    Led the court.

Selected work

First woman chief justice

Became the first woman to hold Canada’s highest judicial office.

Beyond work

Writing

Has also written fiction and memoir.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Gervásio Baptista/ABr. CC BY 3.0 br · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.