James Morton, 59, faked a divorce certificate in order to marry an employee of his firm – while secretly carrying on a relationship with both women.

The case against Mr Morton was brought to court in Newmarket, a small town in the Canadian province of Ontario, where his first wife, Rhonda Shousterman, sits as a justice of the peace.

Ms Shousterman, who married Mr Morton nearly three decades ago, told the court she had no idea that her husband was cheating on her until police contacted her in 2018, Globalnews.ca reports.

His second wife, law clerk Jennifer Packwood, told the court that she had been in a relationship with Mr Morton for years and believed he was divorced when they married in 2018.

Legal colleagues have continued to show support for Mr Morton, with one lawyer calling him a “go-to person for ethical dilemmas”.

Mr Morton is due to be sentenced next month.