It is with great sadness that the Court of Appeal announces that the Honourable Claude Bisson, who was Chief Justice of Québec from 1988 to 1994, passed away on March 18, 2024, a few weeks shy of his 93rd birthday.

The Honourable Claude Bisson, who was called to the Bar in 1954, began his practice in Trois-Rivières, during which time he touched on all areas of the law until his appointment as a Crown prosecutor in 1964. A few years later, in 1969, he was named to the Superior Court in the district of Montreal, where he sat until 1980, at which time he was elevated to the position of puisne judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. In addition to performing his judicial duties, the Honourable Claude Bisson participated in various commissions of inquiry, including serving as Vice‑Chairman of the Canadian Sentencing Commission from 1984 to 1987. On May 24, 1988, he became Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal and, as such, Chief Justice of Québec. He held that position until October 31, 1994, but continued to sit as a judge of the Court of Appeal for a further two years, retiring from the judiciary in 1996, after 27 years of service to the public.

Following his years on the bench, the Honourable Claude Bisson continued to work as a legal advisor, notably as jurisconsult to the National Assembly, a position he held until 2016. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999 and was awarded the Quebec Bar medal in 2015.

The members of the Court wish to express their most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the Honourable Claude Bisson.

Manon Savard

Chief Justice of Québec