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December 15, 1997
(Executive Council)


The following statement was issued today by Beaton Tulk, Government House Leader. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Tribute to Chief Justice Noel Goodridge

I rise today, on behalf of Premier Tobin and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, to pay tribute to one of the province's most eminent and respected jurists, the Honourable Noel Goodridge, who served as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland from November 17, 1986 until January 1, 1996, when his illness compelled him to resign his position as Chief Justice.

The former Chief Justice was born in St. John's. He studied law at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in early 1954 he entered the practice of law with the firm of Hunt, Emerson, Stirling and Higgins. As a private practitioner, Chief Justice Goodridge enjoyed a substantial reputation as a corporate and commercial lawyer, although his endeavours were in no way limited to that area of practice. During his years in practice, the former Chief Justice Goodridge served as Secretary of the Law Society of Newfoundland; President of the Newfoundland Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and an Executive Member of the Canadian Bar Association. These positions are a testament to the respect he enjoyed from his colleagues at the Bar.

On November 13, 1975, Noel Goodridge was appointed a Judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, where he presided until his appointment as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal on November 17, 1986.

Peers of the former Chief Justice agree that his judgments were among the most imaginative and analytical, sensitive and fluent of any delivered by Canada's judiciary. His decisions always disclosed an understanding and appreciation of the history and facts of each case that he heard, and made the reasons for his decision clear to all involved. While he did not hesitate to apply the law as he found it, neither did he hesitate to comment where he felt the Legislature needed to act in order to bring about improvement. Observations made by Chief Justice Goodridge concerning matrimonial property were pivotal in the enactment of the Province's Matrimonial Property Act in 1980.

Throughout his life, former Chief Justice Goodridge was as active in his community as he was in his profession. He was Chair of the St. John's Transportation Commission; Vice-Chair of the General Hospital Corporation; an Executive Member of the Board of Trade and the St. John's Junior Chamber of Commerce; and President, District Governor and Life Member of the Kinsmen Clubs of Canada.

This kind, compassionate, humorous but quiet spoken man has left his mark on everyone who came in touch with him and I wish to join with many others today in offering sincere condolences to his wife, Isabel, and his children, Alan, William, Douglas and Maria.

1997 12 15 4:50 p.m.

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