NEWSLETTER: November 2025
Editors – Allen Mendelsohn, Larry Markowitz and Stephanie Perlis
President’s Message
Alyssa Yufe, President
(cliquez ici pour lire le mot de la présidente en français)
Dear Colleagues, Honourable Judges, Members and Friends of the Society,
Sincerely,
Alyssa Yufe, President 2025-26
The Lord Reading Law Society
president@lordreading.org
“In Camera, Out Loud”: Justice Marshall Rothstein Lifts the Curtain on a Life in Law
Larry Markowitz
On November 16th, the Lord Reading Law Society welcomed the Honourable Marshall Rothstein, C.C., K.C., retired justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, as the keynote speaker for the annual Alan B. Gold Memorial Advocacy Lecture. His talk, In Camera, Out Loud: Recollections from a Retired Supreme Court Judge, offered a mix of humour, candour, and insight drawn from nearly a decade on Canada’s highest court and many more years of public service.
The evening opened with warm remarks from the Honourable Morris Fish, who served on the Supreme Court from 2003 to 2013. Justice Fish introduced his former colleague with affection and understated wit, capturing the blend of modesty and sharp intellect that has long defined Justice Rothstein. His introduction set a thoughtful, personal, and gently mischievous tone.
Justice Rothstein began by reflecting on his formative years in Winnipeg, where he was raised in a close-knit Jewish community and worked on the trains to support himself through school. He credited both his modest upbringing and his 58-year marriage with grounding him throughout the demands of judicial life. He shared several anecdotes with his trademark dry humour, illustrating how his personal foundations shaped his approach to law and leadership.
Before his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2006, Justice Rothstein taught transportation law and built a successful legal career that led to appointments to the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. His recollection of receiving Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s call inviting him to the Supreme Court drew some laughter, especially as he described the early and still awkward public vetting process for nominees.
On the Court, Justice Rothstein became known for clarity of reasoning and a steadfast commitment to judicial independence. He recounted lively stories behind several major cases, including Robertson v. Globe and Mail (on copyright), constitutional questions relating to prostitution and safety, the Carter decision on medical assistance in dying, and the Senate Reference which reshaped the national conversation on constitutional amendment. On the hotly debated Nadon Reference, from which he recused himself (as Justice Nadon had been a colleague), Justice Rothstein stated plainly that he believed the Court “got it wrong,” though he emphasized that even deep disagreement never compromised the collegiality of the bench.
He also paid tribute to former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, under whom he served for his entire tenure. Her ability to keep the Court focused while keeping ego out of the room was, he said, a quality he greatly admired.
The evening turned more solemn when Justice Rothstein reflected on the events of October 7th and the sharp rise in antisemitism that followed. He spoke candidly about the anxieties facing Jewish communities, the growing hostility on university campuses, and the troubling normalization of extremist rhetoric. He warned that liberal democracy is far more fragile than it appears and requires active protection.
Even amid these serious reflections, the night retained a warm spirit. Justice Rothstein shared lighter moments, including his story about attempting to quote Humpty Dumpty in a judgment and his early experiences debating budgets for a student newspaper. These memories reminded the audience that even the most serious jurists carry a human and often humorous side.
“Words mean what I want them to mean.”
— Humpty Dumpty
The program closed with gracious remarks from recently retired Senator Marc Gold, a longtime supporter of the Society and the son of the late Quebec Chief Justice Alan B. Gold, for whom the evening’s lecture is named. Senator Gold thanked Justice Rothstein for a talk that was both enlightening and deeply personal, a reminder of the values and character that shape the law. He described Justice Rothstein as charming, elegant, humorous, and consistently principled.
Justice Rothstein ended the evening on a pointed note, asking aloud where the next generation of Jewish judges will come from in a time marked by rising antisemitism and growing pressures on liberal democracy. His closing words invited reflection. Coming from someone who has long embodied integrity, resilience, and principle, they resonated with particular force.
For a full set of pictures from the event, please click here.
Events of Interest
Allen Mendelsohn
The Society is pleased to share these upcoming events of interest to our members and friends.
1. Mazel Tov to Judge Suzanne Handman on her new book and book launch!
We are so excited that our dear friend Justice Suzanne Handman has published her brand new book, Madam Justice – An Inside Look! It is an insightful and engaging memoir that presents a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system, revealing the life and work of a judge both in and out of the courtroom. Judge Handman will be at her book’s launch this Sunday, November 23rd at 1 PM at the Jewish Public Library. Free tickets for the launch including book signings and a reception are available by clicking here. We’ll see you there!
2. Café Philosophique | Is Political Radicalism a Danger to Democracy?
Hosted by the Jewish Public Library, another dear Society friend Senator Marc Gold is hosting what will certainly be an engaging panel discussion on December 3 at 7 PM. The captivating evening will explore the thought of Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) — one of the 20th century’s most influential Jewish political philosophers — through a fresh, modern Canadian lens. Details and tickets are available by clicking here.
Society Humour
News from the Mishpocha
Mazel Tov
- To Society Second Vice-President William Malkinson and Danielle Ben Ezra on their recent wedding!
