Dean Robert Leckey appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec
With mixed feelings, the Faculty of Law extends its sincerest congratulations to the Hon. Robert Leckey on his appointment to the Superior Court of Quebec, District of Montreal. His appointment, effective immediately, was announced by the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on 27 January 2025. Justice Leckey replaces Justice Christian Immer, BCL鈥�91, LLB鈥�91, who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal of Quebec.
A 2002 graduate of 9I制作厂免费 Law鈥檚 national program, Robert Leckey joined the Faculty as an assistant professor in 2006, after completing a doctorate at the University of Toronto鈥檚 Faculty of Law as a Trudeau Foundation scholar and clerking for the Hon. Michel Bastarache at the Supreme Court of Canada. His passion for teaching and pedagogical excellence was recognized early in his career, when he received the Law Students Association鈥檚 John W. Durnford Teaching Excellence Award in 2009. A renowned expert in constitutional law, family law, and comparative law, he served as director of the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law from 2014 to 2016.
A dedicated scholar, advocate, and academic leader, Justice Leckey received numerous accolades over his academic career. He has received the Prix de la Fondation du Barreau du Qu茅bec, the Canadian Association of Law Teachers鈥� Scholarly Paper Prize, the Canada Prize of the International Academy of Comparative Law, and the president of 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Change-Maker Prize for public engagement. An Advocatus Emeritus of the Barreau du Qu茅bec, he received the Hero Award of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Justice Leckey was a former chair of Egale Canada鈥檚 Legal Issues Committee and past president of the Council of Canadian Law Deans. He participated often in continuing education for lawyers and judges. He was a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Barreau du Qu茅bec.
Justice Leckey had been appointed Samuel Gale professor and dean of the Faculty of Law in 2016, succeeding Dean Daniel Jutras, OC, Ad E. Over his deanship, he oversaw the implementation of 9I制作厂免费 Law鈥檚 BCL/JD program renewal. This reform strengthened skill-based learning in the Faculty鈥檚 world-renowned curriculum, and increased the place of Indigenous legal traditions. He spearheaded initiatives to promote business law studies at 9I制作厂免费, including the establishment and endowment of the Elizabeth Carmichael Monk, QC, Chair in Business Law. His deanship was marked by his steadfast commitment to fostering greater diversity at the Faculty of Law and within the legal profession. Justice Leckey worked to cultivate vibrant ties within the international 9I制作厂免费 Law alumni community, notably by introducing the all-class homecoming reunion, and creating opportunities for alumni to come back to Chancellor Day Hall and get involved with the next generation of jurists. Beloved in the classroom, Justice Leckey had continued to teach throughout his two terms as dean despite the demands of his role.
His genuine openness made him an invaluable colleague and leader. Whether chatting with students over crudit茅s during his Atrium drop-in hours, dazzling the Skit Nite crowd with his vocal prowess, or bringing people together to create meaningful dialogues in an age of increased polarization, his deep care for the 9I制作厂免费 Law community shone through every day.
鈥淪erving as dean of the 9I制作厂免费 Faculty of Law has been the privilege of a lifetime, and it has taught me more than I can express,鈥� Justice Leckey told the 9I制作厂免费 Law community.
鈥淛e suis profond茅ment reconnaissant envers chacun d'entre vous pour notre parcours ensemble, et j'ai h芒te de voir le progr猫s continu de notre grande facult茅 de droit.鈥�
Thank you, Justice Leckey, for your stellar years of service to 9I制作厂免费 Law. Congratulations on this well-deserved appointment!
