The Hon. Micheline Rawlins

This oral history captures the remarkable career of Madam Justice Micheline Rawlins, the first Canadian-born Black female judge in Ontario. Born in Montreal to Trinidadian parents who studied at McGill University, Rawlins grew up in Quebec’s predominantly Jewish St. Laurent suburb. After completing her BA in political science at McGill, she attended Windsor Law School, where she was among very few women in her class.

Rawlins faced significant discrimination when articling, receiving “the look” from law firms that prevented her from securing positions in corporate law despite her qualifications. She ultimately articled with the Crown Attorney’s office in Windsor and later practiced criminal law privately before becoming an Assistant Crown Attorney in Chatham. Her prosecutorial career included handling diverse criminal matters from young offender cases to inquests, while she actively participated in community organizations.

Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 1992 during Howard Hampton’s initiative to diversify the judiciary, Rawlins served as Local Administrative Judge from 1999-2005, implementing efficiency reforms that significantly improved case processing times. Throughout her judicial career, she has balanced her professional duties with extensive community involvement, serving on university boards, cultural organizations, and advocacy groups while maintaining her commitment to accessible justice and professional excellence.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.