Patrick Kerwin

Who was Patrick Kerwin?

Patrick Kerwin, PC, was the tenth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Kerwin was born in Sarnia, Ontario to Patrick Kerwin and Ellen Gavin. After graduating from the Sarnia Collegiate Institute at the age of 16, he enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1906. He articled in Sarnia with R. V. Le Sueur but, after being called to the bar in 1911, decided to move to Guelph, where he practised law for over 21 years with Guthrie & Guthrie. During that time, he served as solicitor for the city of Guelph and Wellington County, as well as Crown prosecutor. In 1932 he was appointed to the High Court of Justice of Ontario.

Three years later, on July 20, 1935, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. He served on the Supreme Court for 27 years, becoming Chief Justice of Canada on July 1, 1954.

Chief Justice Kerwin died on February 2, 1963, at the age of 73.