Supreme Court Justice Cromwell returns to alma mater

Photo by Greg Black

Justice Thomas Cromwell, Mus '73, Law '76, engages with the audience at the Q&A session held in Wallace Hall during his visit to Queen's Law on September 30, 2009.

On September 30, 2009, Queen’s Law welcomed back one of its most accomplished graduates. Justice Thomas Cromwell, the first Queen’s Law graduate appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, spoke to a capacity crowd of students, faculty, alumni and friends and answered questions about serving on Canada’s top court.

Dean Bill Flanagan began the historic event by introducing Justice Cromwell, emphasizing his strong ties to the “Limestone City.” Justice Cromwell was born and raised in Kingston and graduated from Queen’s with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1973. He then studied at Queen’s Law, graduating in 1976. Three years later, he returned to practice in partnership with two fellow alumni at O’Hara, Cromwell and Wilkin, and taught Civil Procedure as a sessional instructor at the law school from 1980 until 1982. “He has always been a great friend of the law school,” said Dean Flanagan.

“Justice Cromwell's visit to Queen's Law was a true homecoming,” noted Erin Pleet, MPA ‘08/Law ’11, Law Students’ Society President.

Justice Cromwell opened by stating, as a former academic, how much he enjoyed returning to a university environment and addressing law students. “It’s a tremendous pleasure to be at Queen’s, I spent six years here…I have great memories of Queen’s,” he said.

Justice Cromwell also commented on the recent passing of Professor Emeritus Hugh Lawford, “a tremendous teacher, scholar and man of vision,” who taught him two courses in evidence and inspired him as a writer.

Reflecting on his own career thus far, Justice Cromwell made some comments and recommendations to audience members. He emphasized the importance of legal scholarship to our justice system and noted how Queen’s Law students were fortunate to have classes with excellent legal scholars who have made and continue to make important contributions to their fields.

Justice Cromwell then encouraged students to build their legal careers in areas about which they were passionate. He emphasized the importance of not just seeking money and prestige, but being happy and fulfilled. “If you do that, much of what you do to earn your living will not seem like ‘work’,” he said, “You’ll know the feeling of [having] someone pay you to have so much fun.”

Finally, he said that it was a high honour to be an advocate and that assisting people during difficult and important moments in their lives is extremely important. He encouraged students to be “independent and courageous,” and “never lose sight of your responsibility to the profession and the administration of justice.”

Photo by Greg Black

“He reminded us all that routine tasks in our jobs are usually something of great significance in the lives of others and that there is honour in serving the public as a lawyer,” said Anthea Cheung, Law ’10.   “Hopefully many Queen’s Law students will apply his comments from today to their own careers.”

After Justice Cromwell’s brief speech, the floor was opened up to audience members keen to address Canada’s newest Supreme Court judge. Questions ranged from judicial involvement in matters of national security and how the Supreme Court actually comes to decisions behind closed doors to judges involving themselves in areas of social policy. He even answered a question about the role music still plays in his life. “I don’t get to play as much as I’d like,” he lamented, “[Being on the Supreme Court] seems to be a full-time job.”

Patrick Chan, Law ’10, asked Justice Cromwell a question about the decision-making process in which the justices engage after hearing a case. “He helped humanize one of the most stressful experiences a litigator could ever face,” said Patrick. “Justice Cromwell was engaging and attentive to his audience…He gave all of us a sneak peek at what happens behind the bench at Canada's highest court.”

“The format was wonderful,” said Jacques Ménard, LLM ’09. “He’s very comfortable with people.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by other audience members.

“It was a rare and wonderful opportunity to hear and ask questions of Canada’s newest appointee to the Supreme Court of Canada,” said Philip Osanic, Law ’91, LLM ’02, a sessional instructor at Queen’s Law and local practitioner. “His clarity of thought, sense of humour and superior reasoning abilities shone through in the extended question and answer session. We all benefit when someone with the stature of Mr. Justice Cromwell at the pinnacle of the legal profession returns to spend valuable time with those just starting out on the journey.”

Photo by Greg Black

Dean Bill Flanagan, LSS President Erin Pleet, MPA '08/Law '11, and Justice Thomas Cromwell at the reception held in Macdonald Hall.

After the question-and-answer period, Dean Flanagan invited those in audience to attend a reception held in Macdonald Hall. Queen’s Law students and alumni were encouraged to use this opportunity to speak with Justice Cromwell directly.

“During the reception, he was kind enough to answer my questions, one-on-one,” said Natalia Rodriguez, Law ’10. “Not only is he an accomplished legal scholar and judge, he is articulate, thoughtful, personable and inspiring. It was a wonderful visit with Justice Cromwell, hopefully one of many more to come.”

Some alumni, many of whom studied alongside Justice Cromwell, enjoyed the opportunity to see their old friend and classmate again.

Kingston lawyer Mary Ann Higgs, Law ’85, competed her undergraduate degree in music alongside Justice Cromwell in the 1970s. “I’m proud of his accomplishments,” she said. “I consider the Supreme Court to be blessed to have an appointee of his nature.”

For more photos of Justice Cromwell’s visit, see http://law.queensu.ca/alumni/alumniEvents/eventPhotoGallery/queensLawVisitingSpeakerCromwellSept302009.html.