Micheline Rawlins
Micheline A. Rawlins (born 1951) is a lawyer and judge in Ontario, Canada. She was the first black woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice.[1]
She was born in Montreal and received a BA from McGill University in 1974 and a LLB from the University of Windsor in 1978. She was called to the Ontario bar in 1982.[1] Rawlins was an assistant Crown Attorney in Kent County before she was named to the bench in 1992.[2]
Rawlins has served on the board of governors for the University of Windsor.[1] She has also served on the boards for various organizations such as the Girl Guides, the Boy Scouts, Robinson House, the Windsor Urban Alliance and the Windsor Media Council.[2]
In 2002, Justice Rawlins received national media attention for attacking a female lawyer's choice of clothing, and adjourning a case for "lack of counsel" because she objected to the lawyer's attire.
Madame Justice Rawlins has received:
- the North American Black Historical Museum Community Contribution Award in 1994
- the African-Canadian Achievement Award in Law in 1997
- the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Black Judges in Canada Recognition Award in 2000
- the Congress of Black Women of Canada Outstanding Contribution to Women, to Law and to Canada Award in 2002
In 2004, she was named Windsor Woman of the Year.[2]
The Loop named her in its list of 10 amazing Canadian women who deserve to be on a 100-dollar bill.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Diversifying the bar: lawyers make history". Law Society of Upper Canada.
- ^ a b c "Beyond the Badge: A CBC series on Windsor Police". CBC News Windsor.
- ^ "10 amazing Canadian women who deserve to be on a 100-dollar bill". The Loop.