Tulloch was the first Black Canadian to sit on any appellate court
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Honourable Michael Tulloch as the new judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Chief Justice of Ontario, and the President of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Tulloch replaces the Honourable George R. Strathy, who has since retired on August 31. Aside from providing his leadership and administration to the courts, Tulloch will also serve as a member of the Canadian Judicial Council.
Earlier in his career, Tulloch was the assistant Crown Attorney in Peel and Toronto from 1991 to 1995, then moved on to private practice to specialize in criminal law. He also worked on the government response team for the Commission on Systemic Racism while working as a Crown Attorney.
His appointment to the bench started in 2003 when he was named judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario. By 2012, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario, establishing himself as the first Black Canadian to sit on any appellate court in Canada.
Beyond his main line of work, Tulloch was a member of the Ontario Superior Court Education Committee, the National Judicial Institute, and the Commissioner’s Judicial Advisory Committee on International Engagement. He was also a founding member and a patron of the Second Chance Scholarship Foundation and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Black Business and Professional Association.
“The Honourable Michael H. Tulloch is a highly respected member of Ontario and Canada’s legal community,” Trudeau said. “As he takes on his new role as Chief Justice of Ontario and President of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, I wish him continued success. I know he brings a wealth of experience to the position and will continue to serve Ontarians well.”
Tulloch holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1991. He has since received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the Law Society of Ontario, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the University of Guelph.
