"Chief Justice DesRoches has served the province well as a justice since 1991. The admiration of people who deal with him and his active participation in improving the justice system are to be commended," says Attorney General Ballem. "He will be remembered as a fair, genuine and understanding leader in the court room. Through a long and distinguished career in the provincial justice system, Chief Justice DesRoches made many contributions to improving public education and access to justice for all Islanders."

In 1969, he joined the Office of the Judge Advocate General, where he served as Deputy Judge Advocate, as Assistant Judge Advocate General for the Atlantic Region, as Chief Military Trial Judge and as Deputy Judge Advocate General in Ottawa. He retired from the Canadian Forces with the rank of Captain (Navy) in 1991. Chief Justice DesRoches was appointed Chief Justice of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island in 2001.