It is said that he had no superior in the conduct of election cases. He was successful in the Devlin-Ryan, Tansey-Malone and the James McShane-Loprairie contests and all these drew to him the attention and favorable comment of the profession. He was equally capable in the practice of civil law and was the legal representative of some of the largest contractors of the continent including men prominent in business in New York, Ottawa and Montreal. His legal counsel was sought by men of prominence again and again. Probably his last appearance as an advocate was when he represented the Dominion government in an arbitration with the province, the case being heard in the city of Quebec about 1894.
Judge Curran was created a king’s counsel by the Marquis of Lorne and was appointed secretary of the commission for the codification of the statutes of the first De Boucherville government. He was called to judiciary honor when made a puisne judge of the superior court, December 5, 1892. He was appointed solicitor general in the ministry of Sir John Thomas and continued to hold that office after Sir Mackenzie Bowell became premier. A contemporary writer said, “on the occasion of his appointment his lordship was congratulated by the press without distinction of party, both on public and personal grounds in acknowledgment of his ‘indefatigable efforts to promote the interests of his constituents’ and he was presented in 1890, chiefly by citizens in Montreal, with a purse of seven thousand dollars.” Judge Curran remained upon the bench for fourteen years and proved himself the peer of the ablest jurist who has gained the superior court bench. There were those who opposed him in the beginning, but all came to acknowledge his capability, his record being a credit and honor to the bench. His opinions were models of judicial soundness and his record as a jurist was such as any man might be proud to possess.
Politically his lordship was a liberal-conservative and he rendered valuable service to his party. He was elected by a large majority for Montreal Center to the house of commons in 1882, 1887 and again in 1891, and upon his appointment to the solicitor generalship of Canada in 1892 he was reelected by acclamation.