Media Release | May 17, 2002
Renowned jurist elected UBC chancellor
One of Canada's leading jurists has been elected as chancellor
of the University of British Columbia.
Former Chief Justice Allan McEachern, a UBC alumnus, begins a three-year
term on June 25, 2002. He succeeds William Sauder, chancellor since
1995.
The chancellor is elected by the alumni of the university as well
as full-time faculty members and members of the UBC Senate. The
chancellor, who confers all degrees, is a member of Senate and the
Board of Governors.
"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with such
a well-respected member of the community," says UBC President
Martha Piper. "Mr. McEachern is a life-time resident of the
province, an alumnus and faculty member. He is very well-suited
to serve in this role."
McEachern graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, a
law degree in 1950 and was given an honorary doctor of Laws degree
in 1990. In September 2001, McEachern joined UBC as Douglas McK.
Brown Visiting Professor and Peter Wall Distinguished Fellow in
Law Faculty.
"It is a special pleasure to be so honoured by the alumni
and faculty of the university from which I graduated," McEachern
said.
McEachern practiced law with the leading Vancouver law firm of
Russell and DuMoulin. He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of British Columbia in 1979. In 1988 he was appointed Chief Justice
of the Appeal Court of British Columbia and retired from that position
in May 2001. Later that year he returned to the practice of law
at his former firm, now called Fasken Martineau DuMoulin.
His career as Chief Justice in both courts is distinguished by
work both as judicial administrator and as a sitting judge. McEachern
reformed court procedure by introducing new rules to make the court
system more efficient and less costly. Recognized for bringing the
Canadian legal system closer to the public, he was the first judge
in Canada to host his own Web site, which invited the public to
e-mail their questions about the legal system.
He also served from 1994 to 2000 as vice-chair of the Canadian
Judicial Council, the body responsible for dealing with issues relating
to the performance of federally appointed judges in Canada.
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