Canadian civil rights lawyer and activist Clayton Ruby has died
Prominent Canadian civil rights lawyer and activist Clayton Ruby has died, CTV News has confirmed.
Ruby, who in 2006 was made a member of the Order of Canada, died on Tuesday. The Toronto native was 80.
Ruby, who retired about a year and a half ago, was a partner at Ruby Shiller Enenajor DuGiuseppe, a Toronto-based law firm that specializes in criminal, civil, regulatory, and constitutional litigation.
The firm shared the news of his passing in a tweet posted early Wednesday afternoon.
Calling Ruby a “leader and mentor,” they said he was a “dedicated advocate for human rights, a champion of the underdog and a loving friend.”
Long-time friend and law firm partner Brian Shiller said the best way to describe Ruby, whom he noted was the longest-sitting bencher at the Law Society of Upper Canada, is to call him “giant” in the legal field.
“Clay was at the highest level of the profession for more than 50 years,” he told CP24 Wednesday afternoon.
Shiller said Ruby, who loved a lively debate, was an “outspoken critic of every government,” someone who was at the forefront of many social justice issues long before others came around to advocating for them. He pointed to Ruby’s long-standing work to abolish the seal hunt and to ensure women have the right to a safe abortion as just a few of the many examples of the legacy he leaves behind.
“The outpouring of support from people today is really something. I think everybody feels this incredible sadness at losing a man who was a pillar of the legal community, but he was also a friend and colleague to so many," Shiller said.
"He is going to be sadly missed by two daughters with his two grandchildren, his spouse, and all of us out there who learned so much and were inspired by him for so long."
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
During his long legal career Ruby represented numerous high-profile clients notably Guy Paul Morin, who was wrongly convicted - then exonorated - in the October 1984 rape and murder of eight-year-old Christine Jessop.
Back in 2012, Ruby served as the legal counsel for private citizen Paul Magder in a conflict-of-interest case against former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who was briefly ordered to be removed from office. In the end, Ford launched an appeal and won. He was, however, ordered to pay back the roughly $3,000 in donations he’d solicited from lobbyists for his personal football foundation when he was a city councillor.
Another one of Ruby's most notable clients is former NDP MP Svend Robinson, who in February 1994 attended the unlawful medically-assisted death of right-to-die advocate Sue Rodriguez. In the end, Robinson was not charged.
In a tweet, Robinson called his “dear friend” a “giant in the legal profession, pillar of the progressive community, and a fine and decent man, a mensch.”
Ruby was also instrumental in fighting for the right of LGBTQ people in Canada. He successfully took on the federal government when he defended Michelle Douglas, who in 1989 was dismissed from the Canadian Forces for her sexual orientation. Douglas launched a lawsuit, which resulted in the end of the military’s discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians.
A specialist in criminal, constitutional, administrative and civil right law, he authored of several legal textbooks.
Ruby leaves behind his wife Harriet Sachs, a Superior Court of Ontario judge, as well as their children Emma and Kate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tensions flare between Poilievre and Singh in the House after NDP says it will back Trudeau Liberals
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh got into a heated exchange in the House of Commons on Thursday, just minutes after Singh announced his party would not be supporting the Conservatives' first non-confidence motion against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
'It's disgusting': Quebec minister reacts after body of boy, 14, found near Hells Angels hideout
The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.
Missing six-year-old boy disappeared after school breakfast program: Manitoba RCMP
Shamattawa RCMP are searching for a missing six-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.
Woman dead, toddler uninjured following B.C. police shooting, watchdog says
B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the death of a woman who was shot by the RCMP after allegedly barricading herself in a room with a toddler early Thursday morning.
PM Trudeau names Anita Anand transport minister after Pablo Rodriguez quits cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tapped Treasury Board President Anita Anand to take on additional duties as Canada's minister of transport on Thursday.
Canadian women among those who allege Harrods boss sexually abused them
CTV News has learned there are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including machine-guns
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including more than 120 handguns and at least five fully automatic weapons like machine-guns.
Shohei Ohtani becomes the first major league player with 50 homers, 50 stolen bases in a season
Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star going deep twice to reach the half-century mark and swiping two bags to get to 51 against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Francois Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling on the Bloc Quebecois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.