He served one term as President of the Canadian Bar Association,[2] prior to being appointed Chief Justice of British Columbia.
[2] In 1973, Farris was appointed directly from the Bar to the position of Chief Justice of British Columbia, the highest judicial office in the Province.
[5] In the summer of 1978, the Vancouver Police acquired evidence, including wiretap and photographs, which implicated Chief Justice Farris in dealing with prostitutes.
The matter was eventually referred to the Canadian Judicial Council, which has the power to review allegations of misconduct by judges.
I consider the mere fact that these allegations have been made, regardless of their substance, have so impaired my usefulness as chief justice that it is in the public interest that I resign.