Judge Patrick Healy was a professor of law at McGill University for almost twenty years, where he taught and published in matters of criminal law, including substantive law, procedure, evidence, sentencing, comparative criminal law, and international criminal law. As counsel, he acted for the prosecution and the defence in Quebec and elsewhere. For many years, he was involved in issues of law reform and has advised governments and various non-governmental organizations, and testified on several occasions before the House of Commons and the Senate concerning pending legislation. Before and after his appointment to the bench, he has lectured extensively in programs for the continuing education of judges and lawyers. He was appointed to the Court of Quebec, Criminal and Penal Division, in 2007.