Brent Cotter is one of Canada’s foremost legal ethicists, with extensive experience in public service and the law.
A former professor at Dalhousie Law School and former dean of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, he is one of the original professors and writers in the field of legal ethics in Canada. He is a member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society.
Mr. Cotter has served as Saskatchewan’s Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General. He also served as Saskatchewan’s Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, where he led the development and implementation of a nationally recognized, government-wide program of services for First Nations and Métis peoples. He subsequently chaired the Government of Saskatchewan’s Independent Commission that provides civilian oversight of police.
Mr. Cotter is a founding board member of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics. He has served on various boards, including an advisory board to Inclusion Saskatchewan and as President of the Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. He served as the President of the Council of Canadian Law Deans, as well as a member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Literacy Foundation, and as the University Fundraising Chair for the United Way. He was also a member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s Advisory Committee on Implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
For his ongoing dedication to public service and his community, Mr. Cotter was awarded the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, the Canadian Bar Association of Saskatchewan’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan. Recently, Senator Cotter was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Canadian Association for Legal Ethics (CALE/ACEJ).
Mr. Cotter holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan, as well as a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws from Dalhousie University.
Senator Cotter is currently serving as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, as a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, and as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators.