Pamela Cross earned the honour for her work advancing women’s equality in Canada for over three decades. She has worked as a lawyer, teacher, writer, mentor and activist to help explain and address the way the law deals with individual and systemic violence against women.
Justice David Doherty was awarded the honour for leading the way in the legal world as a lawyer, jurist and teacher. Practising since 1975, when he was called to the bar, Justice Doherty is known as one of Canada’s most prominent criminal lawyers and was the longest-serving judge of the Court of Appeal of Ontario when he retired in 2024.
Teresa Mary Donnelley is recognized for her career dedicated to providing access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence, most of whom tend to be women and children. She is one of seven prosecutors in Ontario who is dedicated to improving the quality of the survivor’s experience in the criminal justice system.
Mary Eberts earned an LLD for being one of the country’s most respected human rights advocates. She was a crucial part of the creation of s. 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Her work in the legal industry is dedicated to improving the equality rights of women and girls under the Charter.
Marie Henein’s commitment to justice and the rule of law helped her earn an LLD this year. Committed to giving back to the legal community, Henein works tirelessly as a mentor to young lawyers, as well as serving as a role model for young women, and her impact on the lives and careers of lawyers has been notable.
Justice Lise Maisonneuve was awarded an LLD for her commitment to working with partners to update the criminal justice system by addressing the systemic challenges built into it. She has helped to reduce delays and improve access to justice for French-speaking residents of Ontario.