Samuel Freedman

Samuel Freedman, OC, QC (16 April 1908 – 1993), was a Canadian lawyer and judge. Freedman served as Chief Justice of the Province of Manitoba (Canada).

Born on April 16, 1908, to Nathan and Ada (Foxman) Freedman in Zhytomyr, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), Freedman moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada when he was three years old. He lived with his family in Winnipeg's north end, attending Aberdeen School and St. John's Technical High School.

Freedman earned a scholarship which allowed him to enter the five-year Arts program at the University of Manitoba in 1924. He earned five scholarships during the course of his university career. His studies were focused on the subjects of Latin and Greek. He planned to pursue his study of the classics, had he been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship in 1928. Instead, he pursued his second choice—law. He entered the Manitoba Law School in 1929.

At that time, legal education in Manitoba comprised two parts—classes at the law school (which was located in the downtown courthouse) and practical training with practicing lawyers. Freedman completed his practicum with the firm of Steinkopf and Lawrence, a partnership of Winnipeg lawyers Max Steinkopf and W. D. Lawrence.

During his time at university, Freedman was also involved with the Jewish club on campus, known as the Menorah Society. He also served as editor of the University of Manitoba yearbook, the Brown and Gold, in 1929–1930 (during his first year of law school).

Freedman was a skilled public speaker. He enjoyed participating in debates, which no doubt honed his oratorial skills. He was an active debater at St. John's Tech, and continued to debate in university (through his involvement with the Debating Union). He participated in the Imperial Debate with Andrew Stewart, Trevor Lloyd and John Mitchell in November 1930. He also won the McGoun Coup for Manitoba in 1930, partnered with W. L. Morton. After graduation, he remained active with the Debating Union, as well as the League of Nations Society.

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