A Passion for Justice: How 'Vinegar Jim' McRuer Became Canada's Greatest Law Reformer

A major, highly readable contribution to Canadian legal history.

Michael Bliss, Toronto, historian and author

A fascinating account of one of the greatest and oddest judges in Canadian legal history, Patrick Boyer's vast research has resulted in an important book.

June Callwood, author and social reformer

A powerful, straightforward, superb biography on one of the more influential individuals in the history of Canadian law. Boyer vividly presents, in a highly readable fashion, a fascinating record of an extremely complex Canadian personality. Thanks to Patrick Boyer, we can all appreciate and understand the human dimension, the flaws of character, and the greatness of a very important, common sense jurist. I recommend this book to everyone interested in Canadian history, law, or letters.

Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C., Toronto

This book ruined my sleep. I stayed up virtually all night and spent countless hours on planes doing nothing but reading A Passion for Justice.

W. Laird Hunter, Q.C., Edmonton

In this engaging study of an outstanding jurist, Patrick Boyer demonstrates that McRuer's legacy derived as much from his famous inquiry into civil rights and his pioneering work as a law reformer as from his accomplishments on the bench.

Hon. R. Roy McMurtry, Q.C., former Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Attorney General of Ontario, and Chief Justice of Ontario

Donald Creighton with his splendid two-volume study of John A. Macdonald clearly established that biography can enrich history. Patrick Boyer has now revealed that biography can enliven the study of law. Lawyers and law students owe a great debt of gratitude to Boyer for painstakingly producing this outstanding portrait of a great jurist and law reformer.

Gordon Bale, Emeritus Professor of Law, Queens University, Kingston