Richard Byers was admitted to the bar in 1970. During his career, he became a Federal Prosecutor and a Provincial Crown Attorney. In 1988, he was appointed Judge of the District Court of Ontario and a local Judge of the High Court of Justice of Ontario. In 1999, he was appointed Judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario and Judge ex officio of the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Richard retired on December 14, 2016. He has been happily married to his wife Carol for 58 years. They have two children and one granddaughter.