Thibaudeau Rinfret

Thibaudeau Rinfret PC (June 22, 1879 – July 25, 1962) was a Canadian jurist who served as the ninth Chief Justice of Canada from 1944 to 1954 and briefly as Administrator of Canada from January to February 1952. He also served as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1924 to 1944.

The Right Honourable Thibaudeau Rinfret PC
Justice Rinfret, c. 1950
9th Chief Justice of Canada
In office January 8, 1944 – June 22, 1954
Nominated by	William Lyon Mackenzie King
Preceded by	Lyman Poore Duff
Succeeded by	Patrick Kerwin
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office October 1, 1924 – January 8, 1944
Nominated by	William Lyon Mackenzie King
Preceded by	Arthur Malouin
Succeeded by	Roy Kellock
Personal details
Born	(1879-06-22)June 22, 1879 Montreal, Quebec
Died	July 25, 1962(1962-07-25) (aged 83)
Nationality	Canadian
Relations	Fernand Rinfret, brother Charles Rinfret, brother
Alma mater	Université Laval à Montréal, Faculté de droit and McGill University
Occupation	Lawyer, jurist

Early life

Rinfret was born in Montreal in 1879, the son of François-Olivier Rinfret and Albina Pominville.^[1] He was the brother of Fernand Rinfret, Liberal politician who became Mayor of Montreal, and brother of Charles Rinfret, a prominent Montreal businessman.^[2]

Professional career

Rinfret studied law at the Université Laval à Montréal, Faculté de droit and McGill University and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1901. He was appointed to the Quebec Superior Court in 1922 and to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1924.^[1]

Rinfret became Chief Justice on January 8, 1944, and served until his retirement on June 22, 1954.^[1] During his term as Chief Justice, Canada ended appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council making the Supreme Court of Canada the final court of appeal in Canadian jurisprudence.^[3]

Rinfret was Administrator of the Government in 1952 after the departure of Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, and until Vincent Massey could officially be sworn in as Governor General of Canada. During this time he proclaimed Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada, following the death of King George VI.

Personal life

Rinfret's son was the Quebec politician and judge Édouard Rinfret.^{[citation needed]}

Electoral record

v t e 1908 Canadian federal election: Terrebonne
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Wilfrid Bruno Nantel	2,592	50.8	+2.7
	Liberal	Thibaudeau Rinfret	2,513	49.2	-2.7
Total valid votes			5,105	100.0