John McClung
| John W. McClung | |
|---|---|
| Justice of Alberta Court of Appeal | |
|
In office June 30, 1979 – October 21, 2004 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 15, 1935 Edmonton, Alberta |
| Died | October 21, 2004 (aged 69) Edmonton, Alberta |
| Spouse(s) | Eda (1943) |
John Wesley "Buzz" McClung (July 15, 1935 – October 21, 2004) was a historian, lawyer, jurist, and a judge of the Alberta Court of Appeal. He has been the object of much criticism due to his rulings, which have been deemed by some as ignorant, or discriminatory.
McClung was born in Edmonton to John Wesley and Lillian Mae (née) Johnston, was grandson of women's rights activist Nellie McClung, and was left orphaned at the age of 13. He married his wife Eda (née) Matiisen October 26, 1973. He was a member of the United Church, a golfer with a reputation for a formidable short game, and a hunter, especially of waterfowl. "Buzz" was a nickname he carried with him throughout his life since high school.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957 and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1959, both from the University of Alberta. After being admitted to the Alberta Bar, he became known as one of Canada's top criminal defence lawyers and in the 1970s was ranked amongst the top 10 in Canada by Weekend Magazine. He took silk and became Queen's Counsel in 1973, practicing with the firm of McClung Frohlich and Rand.
In 1976, he was appointed to the District Court of Alberta, then to the Supreme Court of Alberta (trial division) in 1976, and was soon thereafter elevated to the Court of Appeal June 30, 1979. He held this position until he died.
He was an avid student and writer of history. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Heritage Room at the Edmonton Courthouse, a collection of artifacts and photographs of Alberta's legal history, including portraits of prominent Alberta judges and many of his own writings. After his death, the Alberta Court of Appeal renamed the room the J.W. (Buzz) McClung Heritage Room. He wrote often about legal history, including a book entitled Law West of the Bay in 1997. He also wrote a History of the Alberta Court of Appeal published by his fellow appellate justices after he died. He was also a friend and strong supporter of the Heritage Community Foundation.
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