Jules Deschênes
A Quebec jurist of unshakable principle, he authored a landmark report on war criminals in Canada and later served on an international tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
1923–2000 (age 77)·Canadian judge·Birthday: June 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Jules Deschênes built a career on intellectual rigor and a deep commitment to justice, both at home and on the world stage. Appointed to the Quebec Superior Court in 1973, he quickly earned a reputation for scholarly, well-reasoned judgments. His defining national moment came in 1985 when the Mulroney government tasked him with leading the Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada. In what became known as the Deschênes Commission, he navigated a political and emotional minefield with cool detachment. His 1986 report was a model of clarity, recommending concrete legal steps to address allegations while upholding fundamental fairness. It was tough, legalistic, and definitive, effectively setting government policy for decades. This work propelled him onto the international scene. In 1993, he was appointed a judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, helping to lay the foundational jurisprudence for prosecuting wartime atrocities. Deschênes was not a flashy figure, but his legacy is written in the quiet authority of his reports and rulings, which advanced the rule of law in moments of profound moral complexity.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Jules was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jules Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Jules's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2000Died at 77
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- Presided over the landmark Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals in Canada (the Deschênes Commission) from 1985 to 1986.
- Served as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 1993 to 1997.
- Authored the influential 'Deschênes Report,' which shaped Canada's policy on prosecuting alleged World War II war criminals.
Did You Know?
Before his judicial career, he was a respected lawyer and served as president of the Canadian Bar Association's Quebec branch.
He was fluent in both English and French, which served him well in his international tribunal work.
His son, François Deschênes, also became a judge on the Quebec Superior Court.
“The law is a shield for the people, not a sword for the state.”
