Some appellate advocacy advice

• Author: The Honourable Marshall Rothstein
• Pages: 229-234

229

g September 2009

Sme appellate avcacy avice

THE HONOURABLE MARSHALL ROTHSTEIN1

eing introduced by Jack [Major] is a great honour; it is no

exaggeration to say that he is an icon of the Canadian legal com-

munity and of this College.

His introduction brings to mind the story of the Pope. He had an

engagement, he came down to the car that was waiting for him and he

decided that he wanted to drive, so he told the chaueur to get in the

back, and he started driving. Unfortunately, he was going too fast and he

was stopped. The ocer came to the car window. When he saw the Pope,

he decided he had better call headquarters.

He said, “We have an incident here.” The desk sergeant said, “What

is the problem?” The ocer said, “Well, I have stopped someone really

important for speeding.” Desk sergeant said, “Who is he?” Ocer

replied, “I am not sure, but the Pope is his chaueur.” Today, I feel like

the guy sitting in the back seat, with the Pope as my chaueur.

As Jack told you, I never made it as a real member of the College, but

I am happy to get in any way I can. Consider me a late bloomer.

1 Canadian Supreme Court Justice Marshall Rothstein was inducted as an Honorary

Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers at its annual meeting in Toronto.

The presentation was made by his predecessor, retired Justice Jack Major, Q.C.,

S.C.C., FACTL. The edited text of Justice Rothstein’s acceptance remarks follows.