Cohen, Maxwell, 1910-1998 : Maxwell Cohen was born in Winnipeg in 1910 and died in Ottawa in 1998. He was a lawyer, professor of law, expert in international law and international relations, leading academic, public servant, judge, writer and active member in the Jewish community. Educated at the University of Manitoba and Northwestern University, LLM 1936 and Research Fellow at Harvard Law School 1937-1938, Maxwell Cohen was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1939 and the Quebec Bar in 1947.
From 1938 to 1940, Maxwell Cohen served as Junior Counsel, Combines Investigation Commission and he was Special Correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor between 1941-1942. During World War II, with the rank of Major, C.M.H.Q. he was Head, Department of Economics and Political Science, Khaki University of Canada in England, 1945-1946. In 1946 he joined the Faculty of Law, McGill University, became a full Professor in 1952, and was Dean of Faculty of Law, 1964-1969. He acted as President of the McGill Association of University Teachers, was founder of the McGill Institute of Comparative Law and Director of the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law. In 1975, Cohen lectured at the Academy of International Law, the Hague. From 1980-1989, Cohen was Professor of Law and Scholar in Residence at the University of Ottawa where he organized the 1996 conference on Nuclear Weapons and Law and taught the Government Control of Business seminar. At this time, Cohen also acted as adjunct professor at Carleton University where he developed the Ottawa and Carleton Universities joint program on strategic studies. During his lifetime Maxwell Cohen took a particular interest in human rights and labour legislation.
Maxwell Cohen has served the public in many capacities: Director, Project 20 (Department of External Affairs), Royal Commission on Government Organization and Finance, 1961-1962; Chairman, Minister of Justice Special Committee on Hate Propaganda in Canada, 1965-1966; Chairman, Royal Commission on Labour Legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador, 1969-1972; Chairman, Special Commission of Inquiry into the Unloading of Grain Vessels Port of Montreal, 1965-1967; Chairman, Royal Commission on St. Jean, 1967-1968; Member, 1964, and President, Quebec Advisory Council on the Administration of Justice, 1972-1974; Director of the C.B.C., 1966-1968; Consultant, Technical Assistance Administration, U.N.O., 1951-1953; and Member of the Canadian Delegation to the U.N. General Assembly, 1959-1960. From 1972-1974 he was Chairman, Advisory Committee on Marine and Environmental Conferences, Department of External Affairs. In 1974 Cohen was appointed Chairman, Canadian Section, International Joint Commission. He represented Canada as Ad Hoc Judge at the International Court of Justice, the Hague, 1981-1985.
Professor Cohen has served on the executive of many professional bodies including: Canadian Branch of the International Law Association, President, 1952-1958; American Society of International Law, 1962-1965; Canadian Bar Association, 1955-1957, 1964; Chairman, Legal Education and Training Committee, Quebec Section of the C.B.A., 1964-1965; Chairman of the C.B.A.'s Special Committee on constitutional and International Law; United Nations Association in Canada; Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Montreal Branch; The Royal Commonwealth Society, Montreal Branch. He was a life member, Canadian Council on International Law, a member of the board of editors, Canadian Year Book International Law, a Director, Canadian Human Rights Foundation and Governor, sometime director, of the Canadian Council on Unity.
An active member of the Jewish community, Maxwell Cohen was Chairman, Public Relations Committee, Zionist Organization of Canada, 1952-1965; Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, 1965-1967; Honourary Legal Advisor, Israel Bond Organization; and a Director of Canadian Friends of Haifa University. Between 1980-1982, Cohen acted as Chairman, Canadian Jewish Congress Select Committee on the Constitution of Canada.
Throughout his life Maxwell Cohen was a prolific writer and he aired his views on a wide variety of subjects in his many contributions to magazines and newspapers. The recipient of many honorary degrees, Maxwell Cohen received the Order of Canada in 1976 and was appointed Emeritus Professor at McGill University in 1978. He was also an honorary member of the Engineering Institute of Canada.
