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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 14, 2009
DUBLIN, IRELAND – The Hon. Susan Devine of Winnipeg, recently retired from the Provincial Court of Manitoba, has won the 2009 CBA Cecilia I. Johnstone Award in recognition of her outstanding work for the advancement of women in the legal profession.
“Susan’s tireless pursuit in advancing the standing and influence of women in the legal profession and the judiciary make her an outstanding selection for this year’s award. The jury was especially impressed with the magnitude of her leadership and service to women both in Canada and abroad,” said Veronica Jackson, National Chair of the CBA Women Lawyers Forum.
Judge Devine is a founding member of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and was instrumental in the establishment of a Canadian Chapter of the IAWJ in 1994. Since forming in 1991, the IAWJ has united women judges from diverse legal-judicial systems who share a commitment to equal justice and the rule of law. Serving in the capacity of President of the IAWJ, Judge Devine organized an international conference in Ottawa, attended by over 600 delegates from around the world. The IAWJ currently has a membership of over 4,000 persons from 90 countries.
In addition to her judicial commitments and involvement with the IAWJ, Judge Devine has maintained a significant legal presence in her local community, where she initiated a formal mentoring program for new judges in the Provincial Court of Manitoba.
“Susan has that rare mixture of personal qualities – a fine legal mind, a love of the law, inner toughness and a deep and abiding respect for people – which made her not just a fine, but a great judge,” said Madam Justice P. Colleen Suche and Patricia C. Lane, Co-Chairs of the Manitoba Branch of the Women’s Lawyers Forum. “She is an extraordinary woman who has had a profound effect on not only the advancement of women in law in Manitoba, but also at a national and international level.”
The Cecilia I. Johnstone Award was established in 2007 to recognize women who have achieved professional excellence in their field and influenced other women to pursue legal careers, supported other women in career advancement, or opened doors for women lawyers. It is named to honour Cecilia Johnstone, an outstanding lawyer, judge, and CBA President who passed away in 2006.
The Award will be presented at the CBA Conferences Reception at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in the John Field Room of the National Concert Hall, Dublin, held as part of the CBA 2009 Canadian Legal Conference. The event is open to accredited journalists who have registered with the CBA Media Centre.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, Canadian Bar Association, Tel: (613) 237-2925, ext. 146; E-mail: hannahb@cba.org.
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