Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday the appointment of Michael H. Tulloch, a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, as the new Chief Justice of Ontario and President of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

He replaces George R. Strathy who retired last August.

Trudeau described Tulloch as “a highly respected member of the legal community.”

“I know he brings a wealth of experience to the position and will continue to serve Ontarians well,” said Trudeau.

Tulloch was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario in 2003. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2012, becoming the first Black Canadian to sit on any appellate court in Canada.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, he served as an assistant Crown Attorney in Peel and Toronto before entering private practice, where he specialized in criminal law.

In 2016, Tulloch was appointed by the Ontario government to conduct important reviews which resulted in two extensive reports: the Report of the Independent Police Oversight Review (2017) and the Report of the Independent Street Checks Review (2018).

He served on the Government Response Team for the Commission on Systemic Racism while working as a Crown Attorney and was chair of a review panel on Osgoode Hall Law School’s admissions policy in 2006.

Chief Justice Tulloch who was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1991, holds a B.A. from York University and a LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School. He has also received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Guelph, and the Law Society of Ontario, as well as an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Tyndale University and Seminary.

LJI Reporter