Category: Biography

Copyright/published Year: 1999 by Dundurn

ISBN: 155002325X

Binding: trade pap

Description: Soldier, university professor, lawyer, political candidate, and ì judge; David Vanek's compelling life story has seen him in many ì roles, all of which are played out in these memoirs.

The child of Jewish-Russian immigrants, Vanek encountered ì anti-semitism while growing up, but was able to overcome ì prejudice and rise to prominence. He was educated at the ì University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School (where he was ì in a Jewish fraternity with Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster) ì before serving in the Second World War. When the war was over, he ì returned to the University of Toronto to teach law, and opened ì his own practice. In 1963 he ran for Parliament as a member of ì the Progressive Conservative party.

In 1968 Vanek became a provincial court judge, and would ì preside over cases dealing with robbery, drugs, assault, ì gambling, pollution, and embezzlement, as well as the rights of ì citizens vs. the rights of police. His most high-profile case was ì that of Susan Nelles, a nurse at Toronto's Hospital for Sick ì Children who was charged with the murders of four babies at the ì hospital.

Vanek went on to become the president of the Provincial Court ì Judges Association, and was active in campaigning for changes in ì how the courts treat young offenders.

Condition Information

This is a used book in Very good condition.

Additional condition description

1999 paperback. Cover has minimal shelf-wear. Three page tops were bumped during shelving. Some shelf-soiling from storage. Sound, square binding.