16 Facts About Ronald Martland

Ronald Martland was the second Albertan appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, taking the place of Justice Nolan, who died after only a short time on the Court.

Ronald Martland's family immigrated to Canada in 1911, when he was four years old.

Ronald Martland graduated from high school at the age of 14, but was too young to attend university, so he worked as a page in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for two years.

Ronald Martland was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Hertford College, Oxford University.

Ronald Martland received an additional BA in 1930 and a BCL in 1931.

Ronald Martland was the first Canadian recipient of the Vinerian Prize.

Ronald Martland became a leading counsel in the courts of the province, as well as appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, at that time the highest court for the British Commonwealth.

Ronald Martland was a bencher of the Law Society of Alberta between 1948 and 1958.

Ronald Martland was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on January 15,1958, on the nomination of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

Ronald Martland served on the Court as Puisne Justice for 24 years, participating in over 1,700 cases.

Justice Ronald Martland was the senior puisne justice, and the long-standing tradition was that the most senior judge on the bench would be appointed chief justice.

One of the most notable cases that Ronald Martland presided over was that of Irene Murdoch, a rancher who had been severely abused by her husband for years.

The Supreme Court under Ronald Martland refused to give her any part of the property, in a decision that "shocked the consciousness of Canadians" and led to widespread calls for reform.

Ronald Martland retired from the Court on February 10,1982, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Ronald Martland died on November 20,1997, at the age of 90.

Ronald Martland was an active member of the Anglican Church of Canada.