William H. Davies

Template:Infobox person William H. Davies Template:Post-nominals Bill Davies, was a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC), Canada, from 1982 until his retirement in 1999.<ref name="Davies_obit">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007 he was appointed Commissioner of the Davies Commission Inquiry which investigated circumstances around the 1998 death by hypothermia of Frank Paul, a Mi'kmaq homeless man.

Education

He graduating from University of British Columbia Law School in 1955.

Career

He articled with Baker, Newby LLP, then known as Wilson & Hinds Law Office in Chilliwack, where he became a partner in 1956.<ref name="Chilliwack_Progress_1989">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1978 Davies was appointed as a County Court of New Westminster in 1978, Bill started his new role as a judge.<ref name="Chilliwack_Progress_1989"/>

Davies served as Justice on the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 1982 until his retirement in 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Davies_obit"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He also served as Justice in the North West Territories.<ref name="Davies_obit"/>

He retired in 1999.<ref name="Davies_obit"/>

Davies Commission Inquiry

Justice Davies was called out of retirement to chair the (2007 - 2009) Davies Commission Inquiry into the 1998 death by hypothermia of Frank Paul, a homeless Mi'kmaq man originally from Elsipogtog First Nation, Template:IPAc-en New Brunswick.<ref name="Davies_2009"/>Template:Rp According to the report, Paul died of hypothermia in an alley in east side Vancouver where he had been released by Vancouver police.<ref name="cbc_davies_report">Template:Cite news</ref> In his 446-page report, Justice Davies was "harshly critical" of the actions of Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in relation to Paul's death.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his May 2011 report, "Alone and Cold: Criminal Justice Branch Response",<ref name="Davies_2011_Alone">Template:Cite report</ref> he questioned the decision "on the part of the crown prosecutors to not proceed with criminal charges against Sergeant Sanderson and Constable Instant in the death of Frank Paul."<ref name="Razack_2015">Template:Cite book In References and Footnotes section</ref> Davies "ruled that the B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch needed an overhaul to its conflict-of-interest policies that were brought up during the inquiry"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Inquiry "resulted in the recommendation to establish the Independent Investigations Office which investigates officer-related incidents of death or serious harm in BC."<ref name="theglobeandmail_obit">Template:Cite news</ref>