‘Empiricism not dogmatism, imagination rather than literalism, are the qualities through which the judges can give their court the stamp of personality.’ Bora Laskin  (1912 – 1984)   14^th Chief Justice  of Canada (1973 – 1984)

Reviews

‘This is an outstanding piece of work.  Skilfully integrating the social, political, and economic changes occurring in Canada, Philip Girard’s rich contextualization of Laskin’s life is very enjoyable and instructive, with an excellent analysis of Laskin’s writings and jurisprudence.’ -   C. Gordon Bale, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University.

‘An absorbing, even-handed, and thoughtful look at an evolutionary period in Canadian jurisprudence and its hero, Bora Laskin – the complex, brilliant man who led the way.’ -   June Callwood, journalist, activist, and author.

‘Timely contribution it focuses of the life and thought of Canada's first and arguably only, popular judicial icon.  His description of Laskin's jurisprudential writing is clear enough for general readers to follow, but nuanced and specific enough also to constitute an important contribution to academic legal scholarship.’    - Mark Freiman, Literary Review of Canada, 2005.

‘In recent years, Canadian judicial biography has taken a sharp turn toward the big, serious and unsentimental. ... Philip Girard's Bora Laskin: Bringing Law to Life ...may be the best judicial biography yet.’ -   Christopher Moore, Law Times, November 5, 2005

A thoroughly researched and sparklingly written biography. Lorne Sossin, University of Toronto Law Journal, vol 59, 2009

Jacket Image: Bora Laskin shortly after his appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada, March 1970.  Norman James/Toronto Star.