Richard Wagner

Early life and education Wagner was born in Montreal, Quebec, to a French Canadian Catholic family as the son of Gisèle (née Normandeau) and Claude Wagner, a former member of Parliament and senator. He studied at the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal before receiving a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in political science, cum laude, from the University of Ottawa in 1978. He received his Licentiate in Law, cum laude, from the same institution in 1979. His appointment was confirmed on October 5, 2012.

On December 3, 2012, a ceremony was held for Wagner's appointment in the Supreme Court of Canada courtroom. The event was attended by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, the federal minister of justice and attorney general, Rob Nicholson, and the Quebec deputy minister of justice, Nathalie Drouin.

On December 12, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Wagner as Beverly McLachlin's successor as Chief Justice of Canada.

On January 23, 2021, Wagner became Administrator of the Government of Canada following Governor General Julie Payette's resignation in response to a workplace harassment investigation. By virtue of the Letters Patent, 1947, the chief justice of Canada is the ex officio principal deputy to the governor general, and may act as governor general when the office is vacant. He ceased to hold office as administrator on July 26, 2021, following Mary Simon's appointment as governor general.

In 2023, Wagner was criticized for his handling of the complaint against puisne judge Russell Brown, which led to the latter's resignation. Brown's lawyer cast doubt on Wagner's assertion that Brown had agreed to step aside from the Court during the investigation.

In 2024, Wagner was criticized by lawyers for having a bust of himself exhibited inside the Supreme Court building. The court refused to disclose the identity of the person who paid for the bust, which raised concerns about the court's transparency. Some also said that it was improper for a sitting judge to have a bust of himself exhibited publicly.

Personal life Wagner is a Roman Catholic. Wagner's father Claude was also a jurist. His grandfather was a German Jewish immigrant originally from Bavaria. Wagner has two children who are also lawyers.

Honours

Honorary degrees

Date School Degree June 19, 2019 University of Ottawa Doctorate June 14, 2023 Law Society of Ontario DoctorateJune 12, 2025 University of Western Ontario Doctorate November 24, 2025 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi Doctorate