Claire L'Heureux-Dubé: A Life

by Constance Backhouse

Both lionized and vilified, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé has shaped the Canadian legal landscape – and in particular its highest court. Only the second woman on the Supreme Court of Canada, L'Heureux-Dubé anchored her approach to cases in their social, economic, and political context. This compelling biography takes a similar tack, tracing the experience of a francophone woman within the male-dominated Quebec legal profession – and within the primarily anglophone world of the Supreme Court. In the process, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé enhances our understanding of the Canadian judiciary, the creation of law, the Quebec socio-legal environment, and the nation's top court.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Law, History

600 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2017

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another read for class - amazing writing.

[Wes Pue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book on an historic SCC judge, written by a remarkable historian who is herself a figure of historical importance. Very readable. Exhaustively researched. Smart. It’s subject is formidable feminist judge who would not call herself a feminist. Though offering high praise for Claire L’Heureux-Dube, the author identifies significant failings, especially with regard to issues touching on race. The chapter on law and religion alone is worth the price of the book.

[Jeffrey Westman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t keep many books that I’ve already read - I usually try to gift them to other people who might be able to enjoy the book themselves. This is a book I’ve decided to keep. It’s unusually intimate, and there were many parts where I saw myself or others. I plan to read it again in a few years.

[Kathleen]

A fascinating history of women in law in Quebec. First woman from Quebec to reach the supreme Court. Huge book but don't let that put you off very readable especially for English Canadians. Definitely an old boys network

[vancha 🦨 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love LD so much. i love how contradictory she is but still steadfast in her values. i love how polarizing she is.

[A Yilmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erudite. An impressive, and thoroughly readable work of scholarship. This book is a great accomplishment in any event, but I would like to praise the author in particular for showing great balance and restraint throughout. This, I think was the crowning achievement in an already excellent work.