Kofi Barnes

Justice Kofi N. Barnes is a Ghanaian-born judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada.

Honourable Justice
Kofi N. Barnes
Judge of the Ontario Superior Court
Assumed office
8 February 2013
Personal details
BornGhana
Parents
  • Samuel Obiba Kwamina Barnes (father)
  • Mrs. Cecilia Barnes (mother)
Alma materOsgoode Hall Law School
ProfessionJudge
Known forExpert in Therapeutic Jurisprudence
Awards
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal
  • The African-Canadian Achievement Awards for Excellence in Law

Early life and education

Kofi Barnes was born in Ghana to Samuel Kwamina Barnes and his wife Cecilia.[1][2][3] His primary school education was at the University Basic School, Legon. He then attended the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School also in Legon, Ghana.[4][5] He originally wanted to train in medicine but switched to law after a friend suggested he could not get into law school.[6] He obtained the BA (degree) from Trent University in 1988. He later completed the LL. B. degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in 1991.[7]

Work

Barnes was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1993. He started working with the Department of Justice in Canada in the same year. He was appointed the deputy director of the Federal Prosecution Service, Ontario Watch in 2002. He was involved in the design and implementation of Canada's first Drug Treatment Court in 1998. He became Canada's 25th African-Canadian judge on 8 February 2004, making him one of Canada's youngest judges at the time.[6][8] He became the first African-born Justice to be appointed to the bench in Canada.[9][10] Kofi Barnes is the founder of the Metro West Youth Community Restoration Court, the Durham Mental Health and Drug Treatment Court and is also co-founder of Canada's first Drug Treatment Court.[1] He was Canada's first Drug Treatment Court prosecutor.[7] Barnes was appointed as a Judge of the Ontario Superior Court on 8 February 2013.[8]

Honours
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal in 2003 for his work on the Drug Treatment Court.[7][8]
  • Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Commemorative medal[1]
  • Trent University Distinguished Alumni Award[1]
  • The Bryden Awards[1][11]
  • The African-Canadian Achievement Awards for Excellence in Law[1]

Books
  • Barnes, Kofi N.; Connors, Tanya; Humphrey, Joanne; Schachar, Annie, eds. (28 November 2017). People, Places and Things: Inspirational Voices from Canada's Drug Treatment Courts. FriesenPress. ISBN 978-1460286500.[12]

References
  1. "LEPH 2018 - Toronto Canada 21 -24 Oct: The Fourth International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health". leph2018toronto.com. Centre for Law Enforcement & Public Health. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. "OBITUARIO Samuel Kwamina Barnes FALLECIÓ EN 15 OCTUBRE, 2012". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial. 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. "SAMUEL KWAMINA BARNES". legacy.com. Legacy. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  4. "In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen - Roll Call Class of '81". Daily Graphic (149753). 2 June 2006.
  5. Asmah, Kobby, ed. (2 March 2022). "Ɔdadeɛ '81 - Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of leaving Presec- Roll Call, Class of '81". Daily Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd (21827): 8. ISSN 0855-1529.
  6. "Ghanaian-born now provincial judge in Canada". ghanaweb.com. GhanaWeb. 9 March 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. Williams, Dawn P. (2006). Who's who in Black Canada 2: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada : a Contemporary Directory. Toronto: d.p.williams and associates. p. 53. ISBN 9780973138429. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  8. "2014 Excellence in Law Award – Justice Kofi N. Barnes". africancanadianachievementawards.com. African Canadian Achievement Awards. 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  9. "OUR CANADIAN JURISTS". theace.me. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  10. Hamalengwa, Munyonzwe (6 March 2014). "Nelson Mandela and the Canadian legal and judicial profession". pambazuka.org. Retrieved 12 July 2020. He is the first African-born Justice to be appointed in the history of Canada.
  11. "2014 Bryden Alumni Awards - Kofi N. Barnes, LLB '91 (Redefine the Possible)". youtube.com. York University Alumni. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  12. Justice Kofi Barnes, Mr (21 November 2017). People, Places and Things: Inspirational Voices from Canada's Drug Treatment Courts Paperback – November 28, 2017. ISBN 978-1460286500.
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