Book Review: Benched-Passion for Law Reform by Nancy Morrison
Nancy Morrison has lived a fascinating life as a lawyer, a grassroots politician, a judge on two different courts, a feminist, and as a mentor. Her five decades in Canadian law have resulted in a delightful memoir, cleverly entitled Benched: Passion for Law Reform. Written it almost seventy short, sharp chapters, it chronicles the life of this interesting, accomplished and modest Canadian jurist, from her time as the daughter of a small town lawyer in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to her career as a respected member of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Told in the conversational style of one friend talking to another, and replete with nostalgic and "groovy" photos from the past, this is an enjoyable memoir that carries the reader along a time capsule from the mid-20th century to the present, with some beneficial life lessons learned along the way.
Nancy Morrison looks back on a rich and eventful life that began in a small city in east-central Saskatchewan where her father was one of two or three lawyers in town, and at a time when the thought of women in law was unthinkable to most people and mocked and obstructed by many in the profession. Assisted by supportive and forward-thinking parents, Morrison began her journey through law school and through her early years of practicing her profession. She experienced difficulty in finding a place to practice law, rejecting the easy option of joining her father's firm. She began job hunting in what was then a male-dominated profession at a time when the prevailing assumption within the old boys club was that women were a bad hire because they all planned to leave as soon as they got pregnant. Fate smiled on Morrison when she met the dynamic Judy LaMarsh, a Federal cabinet minister in the Liberal government of Prime Minister Lester Pearson. The experience of taking over LaMarsh's law practice not only gave Morrison her baptism of fire as a lawyer, but also introduced her to the world of politics and her involvement in the first round of Trudeamania (the original 1968 version, not the 2015 2.0 edition).
Morrison remembers her experiences as a young lawyer in three provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia), as well as her forays into the rough and tumble world of politics. This led to a life replete with fascinating experiences and good friends, as a successful lawyer, a prosecutor and Provincial Court Judge in Vancouver, and later as a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She also recalls her personal life with the enigmatic and colorful Bruno Gerussi, star of the long-running 1970s and 80s TV show The Beachcombers. Through it all, Morrison looks back on a life filled of strong friendships, great social change, sobering and serious issues, but always set on a foundation of strong ethical principles and the proper mix of compassion and social justice.
There are two threads running through the memoir that enrich the value of this book. Firstly, there are many examples of the fundamental importance of ethics. Morrison displays a solid ethical foundation in how she conducted her profession and in all other aspects of her life. This is an important lesson not only within the legal profession, but in all professions and callings. Younger professionals who may be tempted to dismiss this book off nostalgia from their parents' era would benefit from all that this book has to teach about the importance of strong ethics.
Secondly, this book offers a valuable primer on the history and importance of feminism. This is especially beneficial for those who are quick to disparage feminism as the product of meaningless political correctness. Morrison offers jarring examples from her days in the trenches acting for marginalized and victimized women at a time long before community property was an accepted concept, and in an era when domestic violence was the fodder of comedians' acts and not accorded the attention as a shameful social issue that it has eventually been recognized as. Without seeking any recognition or credit, Morrison firmly and modestly establishes her credentials as a courageous foot soldier in the battle to bring about important changes in the way we function as a society today when it comes to approaching the ideal of gender equality.
Nancy Morrison has lived a life that offers a model for all professionals, young and old. She provides an example of how to live a well-rounded life, combining professional excellence with a rich friendships and an unselfish devotion to creating a better world for those to come. That she is able to do all of this without appearing to sound boastful or self-aggrandizing adds to the enjoyment of this outstanding reading experience.
Nancy Morrison looks back on a rich and eventful life that began in a small city in east-central Saskatchewan where her father was one of two or three lawyers in town, and at a time when the thought of women in law was unthinkable to most people and mocked and obstructed by many in the profession. Assisted by supportive and forward-thinking parents, Morrison began her journey through law school and through her early years of practicing her profession. She experienced difficulty in finding a place to practice law, rejecting the easy option of joining her father's firm. She began job hunting in what was then a male-dominated profession at a time when the prevailing assumption within the old boys club was that women were a bad hire because they all planned to leave as soon as they got pregnant. Fate smiled on Morrison when she met the dynamic Judy LaMarsh, a Federal cabinet minister in the Liberal government of Prime Minister Lester Pearson. The experience of taking over LaMarsh's law practice not only gave Morrison her baptism of fire as a lawyer, but also introduced her to the world of politics and her involvement in the first round of Trudeamania (the original 1968 version, not the 2015 2.0 edition).
Morrison remembers her experiences as a young lawyer in three provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia), as well as her forays into the rough and tumble world of politics. This led to a life replete with fascinating experiences and good friends, as a successful lawyer, a prosecutor and Provincial Court Judge in Vancouver, and later as a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She also recalls her personal life with the enigmatic and colorful Bruno Gerussi, star of the long-running 1970s and 80s TV show The Beachcombers. Through it all, Morrison looks back on a life filled of strong friendships, great social change, sobering and serious issues, but always set on a foundation of strong ethical principles and the proper mix of compassion and social justice.
There are two threads running through the memoir that enrich the value of this book. Firstly, there are many examples of the fundamental importance of ethics. Morrison displays a solid ethical foundation in how she conducted her profession and in all other aspects of her life. This is an important lesson not only within the legal profession, but in all professions and callings. Younger professionals who may be tempted to dismiss this book off nostalgia from their parents' era would benefit from all that this book has to teach about the importance of strong ethics.
Secondly, this book offers a valuable primer on the history and importance of feminism. This is especially beneficial for those who are quick to disparage feminism as the product of meaningless political correctness. Morrison offers jarring examples from her days in the trenches acting for marginalized and victimized women at a time long before community property was an accepted concept, and in an era when domestic violence was the fodder of comedians' acts and not accorded the attention as a shameful social issue that it has eventually been recognized as. Without seeking any recognition or credit, Morrison firmly and modestly establishes her credentials as a courageous foot soldier in the battle to bring about important changes in the way we function as a society today when it comes to approaching the ideal of gender equality.
Nancy Morrison has lived a life that offers a model for all professionals, young and old. She provides an example of how to live a well-rounded life, combining professional excellence with a rich friendships and an unselfish devotion to creating a better world for those to come. That she is able to do all of this without appearing to sound boastful or self-aggrandizing adds to the enjoyment of this outstanding reading experience.