In Memoriam - The Honourable Samuel Sereth Lieberman, A.O.E., C.D., Q.C., LL.D. (Hon)

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing on September 19, 2012, of one of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law's most respected alumni: The Honourable Samuel Sereth Lieberman, A.O.E., C.D., Q.C., LL.D. (Hon) (Class of '48). On behalf of the faculty, staff and students, the Faculty of Law extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Samuel Lieberman's family and friends.

Samuel Lieberman was as well known for his impressive military and judicial careers, as he was for his considerable contributions to his community. After spending several years as a successful lawyer, he eventually became the first judge of the Jewish faith in the province.

Born in Edmonton on April 14, 1922, Samuel Lieberman grew up in the Glenora neighbourhood with his parents and older sister. He was a pilot during World War II with the RCAF Coastal Command in Europe and the Middle East, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader. Justice Lieberman returned to Edmonton, Alberta, from active service in 1945, and resumed his university studies, completing both his B.A. in 1947 and his LL.B. in 1948 from the University of Alberta. He was called to the Alberta Bar in 1948 and joined his father's law firm of Friedman, Lieberman and Newson. In 1962, he was appointed Queen's Counsel.

Justice Lieberman continued to practice with his father's firm, specializing in insurance law, until 1966 when he was appointed Judge of the District Court of the District of Northern Alberta. Four years later, he was appointed Justice of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Alberta (now the Court of the Queen's Bench of Alberta). He thus had the dual distinction of becoming both Alberta's first judge of the Jewish faith and the first Jewish judge to be named to the Supreme Court of the province. In 1967, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Alberta where he remained until his mandatory retirement in 1997. In 1976, Justice Lieberman was appointed a Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeal, and the Court of Appeal of the Northwest Territories. He was instrumental in establishing the Alberta Board of Review for persons found to be criminally insane. He became its first Chair and served in that position for nine years. He also served as the first Chair of the Legal Aid Society of Alberta.

Following his retirement from the Bench, from 1997 - 2002, he served as a member of the Alberta Crimes Compensation Board and as Chair of the Alberta Criminal Injuries Review Board. He also joined the law firm, Miller Thomson, where he enjoyed over 10 years of arbitration and counsel work until 2008. From 1952 to 1956, Justice Lieberman served as aide-de-camp to the late Lieutenant Governor J.J. Bowlen. He also served as Chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence between 1997 and 2003.

Justice Lieberman received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment and dedication to Alberta and Canada. For his military efforts, he was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration. He was awarded the Centennial Medal, the Jubilee Medal, the 125^th Anniversary Medal, the Queen's Jubilee Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. In 1990, Justice Lieberman was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. In 2006, he received the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Justice Lieberman was active in a wide range of community and law-related organizations, including Kiwanis Club, CNIB, B'nai Brith, Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Canadian Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Alberta, Congregation Beth Shalom, Edmonton Eskimos Football Club, Edmonton Symphony, Sir Winston Churchill Society, Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame and Technion.

Justice Samuel Lieberman is survived by Nancy, his loving wife of 62 years, son David, daughters JoAnn McLaughlin (Russ), Audrey and grandsons Daniel Lieberman and Sean McLaughlin.

Interview with Judge Samuel Lieberman by the Alberta Order of Excellence: http://youtu.be/mRXL_o6Yue0