TORONTO — York College says Alan Younger, a lawyer and authorized scholar recognized for main the problem of Canada’s prostitution legal guidelines earlier than the nation’s high court docket, has died at age 69.
The college’s Osgoode Corridor Legislation College says Younger’s dying on Saturday is a “profound loss” for the authorized career.
Younger was a central determine in a landmark Supreme Courtroom case that struck down Canada’s prostitution legal guidelines as unconstitutional in 2013 and compelled the federal authorities to revise the laws.
An announcement from the college notes that Younger was additionally recognized for representing individuals with AIDS, most cancers and a number of sclerosis who have been charged for utilizing medical marijuana, resulting in federal rules allowing its use.
Canadian Lawyer journal listed Younger among the many 25 most influential individuals within the authorized career over a number of years.
York’s legislation faculty dean Trevor Farrow says in a press release that your complete Osgoode group sends its condolences to Younger’s household.
“Identified and liked by a lot of our colleagues and generations of scholars, Alan was a trailblazer who made big contributions not solely to Osgoode, however to the legislation and authorized career in Canada,” Farrow mentioned.
Adam Parachin, a professor at Osgoode and one in all Younger’s former college students, mentioned he was “blessed to have recognized” him.
“Alan was good and a ‘one of a kind’ character. His sharp wit made felony legislation an early favorite of mine at Osgoode,” Parachin mentioned in a press release.
Younger’s authorized profession started when he graduated from Osgoode Corridor in 1981, and he labored as a clerk on the Supreme Courtroom of Canada earlier than incomes a grasp of legislation degree from Harvard College.
Younger returned to Osgoode as a professor in 1986, the place he co-founded and directed the college’s Innocence Venture, investigating wrongful convictions and imprisonment. He retired from York College a number of years in the past.
“His ardour for felony legislation was infectious, and lots of caught the bug from him,” Superior Courtroom Justice James Stribopoulos mentioned in a press release.
“There’s a complete era of main felony attorneys in Canada whose beginnings are traced on to Alan.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Dec. 9, 2024.
Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press
