Retired judge Lloyd Soper passed away in St. John’s on Friday, aged 89. Soper had a distinguished career on the bench where he earned a reputation for his diligent, thoroughness and high standards.
For those who recall, Judge Soper served as commissioner for an inquiry into a political scandal that swirled around a fire at Elizabeth Towers in the late 1970s.
Soper may be best known for examining how confidential police reports wound up in the hands of news media. He had no trouble weighing the evidence and making a firm decision in a report that ran a mere 47 pages. The scandal, especially the events of the weekend of 23 September 1978 proved to be a turning point in many political and journalistic careers in the province.
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