Goldwin Arthur Martin

Goldwin Arthur Martin (17 May 191326 February 2001) was a Canadian lawyer and judge who was known as an expert on criminal law. He was a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario from 1973 to 1988.

Early life and education Martin was born on 17 May 1913 in Huntsville, Ontario. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1938 as gold medallist. He was called to the bar of Ontario in June of that year and to the bar of British Columbia in 1950.

Career Martin became a defence lawyer in 1940. He represented 60 people charged with murder and none were convicted of murder, although some were convicted of other offences.

John Arnup called Martin "the greatest criminal lawyer this country has produced". As a criminal defender, Martin developed techniques including the use of expert witnesses and the insanity defence.

Martin died on 26 February 2001 in Toronto.

Awards He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1991 and became a companion in 1997.