A judge with exceptional longevity has just died. who was he?
The former judge Orville Frenette died at the age of 97.
Of Acadian origin, Orville Frenette enrolled in the law faculty of McGill University in September 1950. Four years later, he was admitted to the Quebec Bar.
He continued his law studies at the University of Ottawa, becoming the first holder of a doctorate in law from this university.
Orville Frenette practices as a lawyer, co-founding the firm Chevalier Frenette Chevalier with his friends. Francois Chevalier — who will become a judge of the Court of Appeal — and Maurice Chevalier — future judge at the Youth Court.
In 1965, after an internship at the Crown’s office, Orville Frenette entered the judiciary when he was appointed judge of the Provincial Court of Quebec, which became the Court of Quebec. At the age of 38, he was the youngest judge to have been appointed to this court.
In 1978, the magistrate was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec. This law enthusiast was scandalized when he had to cease his duties as a Superior Court judge, having reached the age limit of 75. He was then appointed a deputy judge of the Federal Court, where he was still practicing at the age of 83… 56 years after being called to the Bar.
A karate fan, Orville Frenette was a third degree black belt. He considered that this sport had allowed him to develop the ability to concentrate and better physical conditioning, he explained in The Press in 2002.
Orville Frenette wrote several books: The impact of the death of the victim of a crime or quasi-crime on the action for compensation (1961), Assessment of damages in the event of injury and death: supplement (1973), Assessment of damages in cases of personal injury, death and certain violations of fundamental human rights: 2003 supplement.
Longevity also characterized Orville Frenette’s personal life, including his marriage to his late wife Jeannine Frenette lasted more than 73 years.
Marie-Anne PaquetteChief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, pays tribute to Justice Frenette on the obituary page: “It is with regret that I learned of the death of our retired colleague, the Honourable Orville Frenette, the announcement of which was communicated to colleagues of the Superior Court. On behalf of all the judges and on my own behalf, I extend to the members of his family our most sincere condolences.”
Former Superior Court judge, Pierre Isabellesalutes the memory of the deceased: “During my career as a lawyer, I had the pleasure of pleading on numerous occasions before Judge Frenette. This eminent jurist always showed attentiveness and respect for lawyers and empathy for the parties. He was a fair and upright man. I had the pleasure and honour of becoming one of his work colleagues at the Court for a few years before his retirement. He was a generous colleague and always attentive to the needs of the Court. What wonderful conversations we had over the years.”
“I had the pleasure of working with him for many years at the Superior Court.
His erudition, his intellectual rigor, his sense of duty and his kindness were his trademarks,” salutes Jean-Pierre Plouffeintelligence commissioner and former Superior Court judge.
Orville Frenette leaves to mourn his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.
