Female-identifying law students dine with female justices in celebration
On March 7, 2023, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law welcomed five Ontario judges for An Evening with Female Judges. The judges in attendance were Justice Jill M. Copeland of the Ontario Court of Appeal; Justice Rita J. Maxwell, Justice Gisele M. Miller, and Justice Lucy K. McSweeney of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario; and Justice Manjusha Pawagi of the Ontario Court of Justice, Family Court.
Female-identifying students of all years at the law school were invited to attend a dinner with the esteemed guests, during which the five judges imparted their great wisdom. Students had the opportunity to speak intimately with the panel, asking them questions about their careers, managing a work-life balance, experiencing imposter syndrome, and for advice about law school, articling, practice, and beyond.
An Evening with Female Judges is a programme by the Canadian Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges, with a mandate to enhance the work of women judges nationally and internationally in pursuit of equality, judicial independence, and the rule of law. The Association supports women judges around the world; notably, the Canadian Chapter’s Afghan Judges Support Committee is working to aid women judges in Afghanistan who were persecuted when the Taliban assumed control over the judicial system. Many of the Afghan women judges have been welcomed into Canada. The Association strives to eliminate gender bias from judicial systems and promote equal access to the courts.
This is the third time the law school has hosted An Evening with Female Judges, with the last event being held on March 20, 2020, just before COVID-19 restrictions were put in place. This year, everyone who was interested in the event was able to attend.
