Judge Morton Minc

His entire career reflects his professionalism and profound humanity. After passing his bar school examination in 1973, he practised law with a number of private firms, including McCarthy Tétrault, Campbell-Minc, and then Minc and Associates, which he led for 12 years. His career as a lawyer led him as far away as the Northwest Territories, where he showed exemplary generosity in pleading pro bono on behalf of impoverished clients. 

A judge from 1993 to 2009, and then chief justice from 2009 to 2015 of the Municipal Court of Montréal, Morton Minc transformed this court by establishing numerous assistance, reintegration and rehabilitation programs to help the most vulnerable people regain control of their lives. Among his legacies is the implementation of a program specially adapted to the homeless and another program to counter elder violence and abuse. 

Judge Minc also helped improve many existing programs. By mobilizing community organizations, health and social services institutions, police services and professionals in the justice field, he built and encouraged a culture of collaboration and cooperation. His actions contributed to making the Municipal Court of Montréal an example for many other municipalities in Quebec and beyond. 

Judge Minc believes that it is possible to protect victims’ rights while offering offenders a second chance. His achievements have had a major impact not only on many people caught up in difficult situations but also on students who find in him an unending source of inspiration. He became the first jurist-in-residence at Concordia University and leads the Child Advocacy Project, aimed at defending the rights and interests of children. 

Since retiring, Judge Minc continues to involve himself in the Montréal community. He sat for several years on the board of directors of the Centre d’hébergement L’Entre-Toit. In 2016, he became chair of the Conseil de la justice administrative du Québec, whose mandate is to investigate ethical complaints against Quebec’s administrative judges. 

In 2014, he was awarded the Prix de la justice, the highest honour bestowed in the judicial field in Quebec. 

After graduating with an arts degree from Sir George Williams University (Concordia) in 1970, he studied law at Université de Montréal, taking up the challenge of studying in French.