Mr Serjeant Buzfuz (talk | contribs) added link to Category:Canadian Queen's Counsel |
m bypass redir that is clearly for Canadians article using AWB |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Photograph of Judge Helen Kinnear (4932404789).jpg|thumbnail|right|Kinnear, circa 1943.]] |
[[File:Photograph of Judge Helen Kinnear (4932404789).jpg|thumbnail|right|Kinnear, circa 1943.]] |
||
'''Helen Alice Kinnear''', {{post-nominals|country=CAN|KC}} (May 6, 1894 – 1970)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.lsuc.on.ca/PDC/Archives/Archives-Blog/Born-on-this-day---May-6,-1894-%E2%80%93-Helen-Kinnear/|title = Born on this day...May 6, 1894 – Helen Kinnear|date = |access-date = 2016-02-04|website = |publisher = Law Society of Upper Canada|last = |first = }}</ref> was a [[Canadian]] [[lawyer]]. She was the first woman in the [[British Commonwealth]] to be made a [[King's Counsel]], the first female lawyer to argue before the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], and the first woman appointed as a judge by the [[Government of Canada]].<ref name=":0" /> |
'''Helen Alice Kinnear''', {{post-nominals|country=CAN|KC}} (May 6, 1894 – 1970)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.lsuc.on.ca/PDC/Archives/Archives-Blog/Born-on-this-day---May-6,-1894-%E2%80%93-Helen-Kinnear/|title = Born on this day...May 6, 1894 – Helen Kinnear|date = |access-date = 2016-02-04|website = |publisher = Law Society of Upper Canada|last = |first = }}</ref> was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[lawyer]]. She was the first woman in the [[British Commonwealth]] to be made a [[King's Counsel]], the first female lawyer to argue before the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], and the first woman appointed as a judge by the [[Government of Canada]].<ref name=":0" /> |
||
==Early life== |
==Early life== |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Career== |
==Career== |
||
[[File:Photograph of Helen Alice Kinnear (1894-1970) (12122146913).jpg|thumbnail|right|Graduation photo from the [[Law Society of Upper Canada]] in 1920]] |
[[File:Photograph of Helen Alice Kinnear (1894-1970) (12122146913).jpg|thumbnail|right|Graduation photo from the [[Law Society of Upper Canada]] in 1920]] |
||
Kinnear practiced law in [[Port Colborne, Ontario|Port Colborne]], Ontario, where she initially practised with her father, who renamed the firm Kinnear & Kinnear.<ref name=":2" /> When her father died in 1924, she opened her own practise.<ref name=":2" /> |
Kinnear practiced law in [[Port Colborne, Ontario|Port Colborne]], Ontario, where she initially practised with her father, who renamed the firm Kinnear & Kinnear.<ref name=":2" /> When her father died in 1924, she opened her own practise.<ref name=":2" /> |
||
In 1934, she became the first woman in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] to be created a [[King's Counsel]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 1935, she became the first female lawyer in Canada to appear before the [[Supreme Court of Canada]].<ref name=":1" /> |
In 1934, she became the first woman in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] to be created a [[King's Counsel]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 1935, she became the first female lawyer in Canada to appear before the [[Supreme Court of Canada]].<ref name=":1" /> |
||
=== Politics === |
=== Politics === |
||
Kinnear was an active member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]].<ref name=":2" /> She was active in overcoming women's inequality in society and in the Liberal party.<ref name=":1" |
Kinnear was an active member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]].<ref name=":2" /> She was active in overcoming women's inequality in society and in the Liberal party.<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":2" /> In 1941, after two previous failed attempts, Kinnear was made the Liberal party's nominee for the [[Welland Riding]]. It appeared that she would soon win election to [[Parliament of Canada]].<ref name=":1"/> However, she later relinquished the role to [[Humphrey Mitchell]], the newly appointed Minister of Labour who did not have a seat.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Kinnear never ran again.<ref name=":1" /> |
||
=== Judge === |
=== Judge === |
||
In 1943, Kinnear was appointed county-court judge for [[Haldimand County]], becoming the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed a judge by the federal government.<ref name=":1" /> Kinnear saw the appointment as not just a personal victory, but a "victory" for women.<ref name=":2" /> In 1947 she was appointed judge of the Juvenile Court. She was the first woman in the Commonwealth appointed to a county-court bench. When she attended a Commonwealth and Empire Law conference in 1955, she was noted as the "only woman in the Commonwealth to have been made a county court judge."<ref name=":2" /> |
In 1943, Kinnear was appointed county-court judge for [[Haldimand County]], becoming the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed a judge by the federal government.<ref name=":1" /> Kinnear saw the appointment as not just a personal victory, but a "victory" for women.<ref name=":2" /> In 1947 she was appointed judge of the Juvenile Court. She was the first woman in the Commonwealth appointed to a county-court bench. When she attended a Commonwealth and Empire Law conference in 1955, she was noted as the "only woman in the Commonwealth to have been made a county court judge."<ref name=":2" /> |
||
==== Royal Commissions ==== |
==== Royal Commissions ==== |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
=== Retirement === |
=== Retirement === |
||
Kinnear retired from her role as a judge in 1961 because of illness and moved back to Port Colborne.<ref name=":1" /> Kinnear, who never married, lived with her sister Jennie.<ref name=":2" /> Kinnear died on April 25, 1970.<ref name=":1" /> |
Kinnear retired from her role as a judge in 1961 because of illness and moved back to Port Colborne.<ref name=":1" /> Kinnear, who never married, lived with her sister Jennie.<ref name=":2" /> Kinnear died on April 25, 1970.<ref name=":1" /> |
||
== Legacy == |
== Legacy == |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== References == |
== References == |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinnear, Helen Alice}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinnear, Helen Alice}} |
||
[[Category:1894 births]] |
[[Category:1894 births]] |
||
Revision as of 04:19, 5 October 2017
Helen Alice Kinnear, KC (May 6, 1894 – 1970)[1] was a Canadian lawyer. She was the first woman in the British Commonwealth to be made a King's Counsel, the first female lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court of Canada, and the first woman appointed as a judge by the Government of Canada.[1]
Early life
Kinnear was born in Cayuga, Ontario, Canada.[1][2] Her father was a lawyer.[3] She graduated from the University of Toronto.[3] Afterward she attended Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario bar, to become a lawyer, in 1920.[1]
Career
Kinnear practiced law in Port Colborne, Ontario, where she initially practised with her father, who renamed the firm Kinnear & Kinnear.[3] When her father died in 1924, she opened her own practise.[3]
In 1934, she became the first woman in the British Commonwealth to be created a King's Counsel.[1][2] In 1935, she became the first female lawyer in Canada to appear before the Supreme Court of Canada.[2]
Politics
Kinnear was an active member of the Liberal Party of Canada.[3] She was active in overcoming women's inequality in society and in the Liberal party.[2][3] In 1941, after two previous failed attempts, Kinnear was made the Liberal party's nominee for the Welland Riding. It appeared that she would soon win election to Parliament of Canada.[2] However, she later relinquished the role to Humphrey Mitchell, the newly appointed Minister of Labour who did not have a seat.[2][3] Kinnear never ran again.[2]
Judge
In 1943, Kinnear was appointed county-court judge for Haldimand County, becoming the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed a judge by the federal government.[2] Kinnear saw the appointment as not just a personal victory, but a "victory" for women.[3] In 1947 she was appointed judge of the Juvenile Court. She was the first woman in the Commonwealth appointed to a county-court bench. When she attended a Commonwealth and Empire Law conference in 1955, she was noted as the "only woman in the Commonwealth to have been made a county court judge."[3]
Royal Commissions
In 1954, Kinnear was appointed to two Royal Commissions: the Royal Commission for the Criminal Law Relating to Sexual Psychopaths and the Royal Commission Relating to the Defense of Insanity.[2]
Retirement
Kinnear retired from her role as a judge in 1961 because of illness and moved back to Port Colborne.[2] Kinnear, who never married, lived with her sister Jennie.[3] Kinnear died on April 25, 1970.[2]
Legacy
In 1993 Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp to honour Kinnear's achievements.[2]
Kinnear House
Kinnear House was Helen Kinnear's residence from 1904 to 1942. The house was built by lawyer Louis Kinnear in 1904.
In 1999, Kinnear House, situated at 232 Clarence Street, Port Colborne, was added to the database of Heritage Port Colborne's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee for the purpose of publicizing Kinnear's residence as a noteworthy local property.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Born on this day...May 6, 1894 – Helen Kinnear". Law Society of Upper Canada. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Salokar, Rebecca Mae; Volcansek, Mary L. (1996-01-01). Women in Law: A Bio-bibliographical Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313294105.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Schultz, Ulrike; Shaw, Gisela (2014-07-18). Gender and Judging. A&C Black. ISBN 9781782251118.