Séverin Létourneau (23 May 1871 – 17 December 1949) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and jurist from Quebec. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the Montréal‑Hochelaga riding (1912‑1919) and later held senior judicial offices, including Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Quebec from 1943 until his death in 1949.
Early life and education
Born in Saint‑Constant, Quebec, Létourneau was the son of Hubert Létourneau, a farmer, and Claire Vadney Lanctôt. He attended the École normale Jacques‑Cartier and subsequently studied law at Université Laval à Montréal. He was called to the Quebec Bar on 9 July 1895.
Legal career
After admission to the bar, Létourneau practiced law in Montreal. He was a partner in several law firms, notably Pelletier et Létourneau (1895‑1909), Pelletier, Létourneau et Beaulieu (1909‑1915), and Létourneau, Beaulieu, Marin et Mercier (1915‑1918). He also served as a clerk for the King’s Counsel office beginning 30 June 1906.
Political career
A member of the Liberal Party, Létourneau was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the Montréal‑Hochelaga district in the 1912 provincial election. He was re‑elected without opposition in 1916 and served until 1919, when he did not seek re‑election. During his legislative tenure he held leadership roles within the Liberal Party, including president of the Saint‑Henri Liberal Club (1908, 1911) and organizer of the Montreal Liberal Party district (1911‑1921). He also presided over the Fédération des clubs libéraux de la province de Québec in 1914.
Judicial career
On 25 January 1922 Létourneau was appointed a judge of the Court of King's Bench (Cour du banc du roi). He became a judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal on 5 December 1919 and was later appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal on 9 January 1942. In 1942 he acted as the province’s administrator during the lieutenant‑governor’s absence. He remained Chief Justice until his death in 1949.
Honours and legacy
Létourneau received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from the Université de Montréal in 1943. He was involved in various civic organizations, including the Union Saint‑Joseph de Saint‑Henri and was a founding member of the Hôpital Saint‑Joseph. His papers are held by the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
References
- National Assembly of Québec biography of Séverin Létourneau.
- Archives Canada and genealogical records.
- Historical portrait, Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal.