Charles Leonard Dubin

Lawyer and jurist Charles Leonard Dubin was a brilliant lawyer who rose to the position of Chief Justice of Ontario. Born in Hamilton, he completed undergraduate studies at UC before graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. He practised both criminal and civil law, representing clients ranging from unions to corporations, bookies to athletes, as well as former prime minister John Diefenbaker. A legal superstar with a reputation for ethics and excellence, Dubin was asked to sit on the Ontario Court of Appeal by prime minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973; he ascended to Chief Justice in 1993.

He served on several royal commissions, notably leading the Dubin Inquiry into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, struck after Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal for testing positive for steroids at the 1988 Olympic Games. He also led inquiries into aviation safety and hospital procedures in Canada.

For his tremendous contributions to the legal profession and justice system, Dubin was honoured with three honorary doctorates, and named an Officer of the Order of Canada as well as a Member of the Order of Ontario.