Patrick LeSage

Patrick J. LeSage, CM, O.Ont is a lawyer and former judge. He spent 29 years as a judge, and until 2002 was the Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He received his legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School graduating in 1961.

In 1975 LeSage was appointed to Ontario's County and District Court. In 1983 he was named Associate Chief Judge of that court.

At some point the County and District Court was merged into the Ontario Court (General Division). LeSage became Associate Chief Justice of that court in 1994 and Chief Justice in 1996. (After the court system was reorganized in 1999, LeSage was Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.)

In 1995, LeSage presided over the trial of Paul Bernardo in connection with the kidnapping, torture, and murders of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in St. Catharines, Ontario. LeSage has said this was the case that affected him most profoundly in his career.

Since 2004, LeSage has sat on the Board of Governors of York University. In 2005 he was elected a senior fellow of Massey College. He was also appointed a commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission.

The Government of Ontario appointed LeSage to conduct a review of the province's police complaints system; he presented his report on this matter in 2005.

The Attorney General of Manitoba appointed LeSage to conduct an inquiry into the wrongful conviction of James Driskell for murder.

LeSage holds honorary degrees from the University of Windsor (1996), Laurentian University (2001), and the Law Society of Upper Canada (2006).

After retiring from the bench, LeSage practiced as Counsel at the law firm Gowlings, in Toronto. He has since retired from the firm.

LeSage is married to Susan Lang, who sits on the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

In December 2007 LeSage was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the Ontario judiciary, notably as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario, and for his ongoing dedication to public service. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario.