Lorne Clarke

This article is about the Canadian lawyer. For the Canadian singer/songwriter, see Lorne Clarke (singer).

Lorne Clarke
20th Chief Justice of Nova Scotia
In office 1985–1998
Preceded by	Ian Malcolm MacKeigan
Succeeded by	Constance Glube
Personal details
Born	(1928-11-22)November 22, 1928 Malagash, Nova Scotia
Died

Lorne O. Clarke, OC ONS (November 22, 1928 – May 21, 2016) was a Canadian lawyer and Chief Justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Biography

Born in Malagash, Nova Scotia, in 1928, he graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.A. in 1949 and an LL.B. in 1951. In 1955, he received an LL.M. from Harvard University. He was admitted to the Bar in 1953 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1969.

He was a member of the Faculty of Law of Dalhousie University from 1952 to 1959. From 1959 to 1981, he practised law in Truro, Nova Scotia.

In 1981, he was made a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Trial Division. In 1985, he became the twentieth Chief Justice since the founding of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in 1754. He retired in 1998. From 1998 to 1999, he was the Chair of the Memorial Advisory Committee of Swissair Flight 111.

In 1999, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia.

He married Mary Lou MacLeod. They had three children: Nora, George and Colin.