Federal Court Chief Justice Allan Lutfy retiring
Chief Justice of the Federal Court Allan Lutfy plans to retire Sept. 30 after holding the position for eight years.
Lutfy, 67, advised Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson of his decision to resign on Tuesday.
He joined the Federal Court in 1996 and was appointed chief justice on July 2, 2003, by Jean Chrétien, who was then prime minister. Before that, he served as associate chief justice for three years.
The Federal Court is Canada's national trial court, which hears and decides legal disputes arising in the federal domain, including claims against the government of Canada, civil suits in federally regulated areas and challenges to the decisions of federal tribunals, according to the court’s website.
Before being appointed the judiciary, Lutfy specialized in civil litigation and administrative law in Quebec and Ontario.
He acted as counsel before a number of commissions of inquiry related to national security, the state of competition in the petroleum industry and the use of drugs in sports. He was also counsel to the Security Intelligence Review Committee and to the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Between 1973 and 1979, he was a political adviser for the federal government.
Lutfy was born in Montreal and attended Loyola College. He graduated in civil law from McGill University in 1967.
He married his wife, Brigitte Lord, in December 1979, and they are the parents of three children: Pierre, Patrick and Caroline.
