Selwyn Romilly, B.C.’s first Black judge, dies
Posted September 26, 2023 2:20 pm.
Last Updated September 26, 2023 10:44 pm.
Justice Selwyn Romilly, the first Black person to be appointed as a judge in B.C., has passed away.
The Hogan’s Alley Society, a group that advocates to recognize Black people’s contributions to Vancouver’s history, says Romilly’s work was instrumental in promoting inclusivity in the judicial system.
“Throughout his career, he championed justice, equality, and diversity within the legal profession,” the society said. “His legacy will continue to inspire and remind us of the importance of promoting equality and justice in our society.”
Born in Trinidad, Romilly graduated from UBC’s law school in 1966. He was appointed as a judge at the provincial court of B.C. in 1974 and was elevated to the B.C. Supreme Court in 1995. He retired in 2015.
“For decades, Justice Romilly has contributed to the development of the law in British Columbia,” according to the BC Black History Awareness Society.
“A large number of his judgments have been summarized in the Weekly Criminal Bulletin, the BC Digest of Criminal and Sentence Cases, and the Charter of Rights Digest.”
In a statement, B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says her “thoughts are with the family of Justice Romilly.”
“As the first black judge in B.C., he paved the way for so many people of colour practicing law today, myself included. He reminded us to be persistent and courageous in the face of adversity, and that spirit will live on through his legacy. I know his death has created a sense of loss for many, and he will be greatly missed.”
Even as a judge, Romilly had to fight against racial profiling. In 2021, he was arrested while walking peacefully on the Vancouver seawall, saying at the time, “The way I was treated, certainly was different from the way the average white person will be treated.”
Justice Romilly was 83.
With files from Liza Yuzda
