He was the sole Clark appointee to serve as a justice of the Supreme Court.

Born in Quebec City, the son of Joseph Julien Chouinard and Berthe Cloutier, he received a BA in 1948 and a LL.L.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the House of Commons of Canada for the Quebec riding of Matane in the 1968 federal election.

In recognition of his contribution to public service, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1974.

In 1979, Prime Minister Joe Clark appointed him to the Supreme Court, and he served until his death from brain cancer in 1987.