Ruby, who was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2006, died on Tuesday. The Toronto native was 80 years old.
During his long legal career, Ruby represented many high-profile clients, most notably Guy Paul Morin, who was wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of eight-year-old Christine Jessop in October 1984.
In 2012, Ruby successfully represented private equity firm Paul Magder in a conflict of interest case against former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who was briefly ordered out of office. In the end, Ford launched an appeal and won. But he was ordered to return about $3,000 in donations he solicited from lobbyists for his personal soccer foundation when he was a city councilman.
Another of Ruby’s most notable clients is former NDP MP Svend Robinson, who in February 1994 oversaw the wrongful medically assisted death of Sue Rodriguez. Ultimately, Robinson was not charged.
In a tweet, Robinson called his “dear friend” “a giant in the legal profession, a pillar of the progressive community and a good and decent man, a human being.”
I was devastated to hear the news of the passing of my dear friend Clay Ruby. A giant in the legal profession, a pillar of the progressive community and a good and decent man, a human being. Condolences to Harriet, Emma and Kate and all who knew and loved him as Max and I did. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dgZtYn9xJF
— Svend Robinson (@SvendJRobinson) August 3, 2022
Among other things, Ruby was also instrumental in the fight for LGBTQ rights in Canada. He successfully took on the federal government when he defended Michelle Douglas, who in 1989 was fired from the Canadian Forces for her sexual orientation. Douglas launched a lawsuit, which ended the military’s discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians.
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Clayton Ruby. He was a legal giant and championed the rights of #LGBT ppl especially when he took on the federal government over firing @MDouglas_YOW from the military for her sexual orientation. @CanadaRainbow pic.twitter.com/uDRXA4iGmf
— TDotGayCop (@TDotGayCop) August 3, 2022
A specialist in criminal, constitutional, administrative and civil law, he wrote several legal textbooks.
Ruby is survived by his wife Harriet Sachs, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and their children Emma and Kate.
More to come.
