Honourable Judge Sandra Ellen Oxner, BA, LL.B. '65, LL.M.

Judge Sandra Oxner was born and educated in Halifax, where she received a B.A. from the University of King’s College and LL.B. from Dalhousie Law School.  She was called to the Bar in Nova Scotia in 1965 and until 1971 was employed with the Legal Department of the City of Halifax.  In 1972 she made history by being appointed the first female judge in Nova Scotia.  Her period on the Bench has been marked by compassion and decency to all who appear before her.

In 1976 and 1977 Judge Oxner spent fifteen months in Ottawa acting as the Criminal Law Consultant for the Law Reform Commission of Canada.  In 1977, Judge Oxner was elected President of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges.  Twice she was appointed Chair of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice.  During this period she worked tirelessly to create a national judicial centre to provide continuing educational programs for members of all courts, as well as administrative tribunals.  She became a founding Governor of the Canadian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

As first Education Chairperson on the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges, Judge Oxner instituted regional and national education programs bringing together for the first time, for education purposes, provincial court judges from different provinces.  Over the years she has worked to achieve the presentation of education programs which would improve the quality of justice by bringing together not only judges of all courts, but also the judiciary with members of the Bar and the public.

Judge Oxner continues her work in the field of judicial education as President of The Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute which has its home at Dalhousie Law School.  As a volunteer through the Canadian International Development Agency, Judge Oxner organizes and supervises study tours of the Canadian Justice System by jurists of developing countries.  Her interest in this area has brought jurists from Africa, Asia the Caribbean and Pacific Rim countries together to spend time with their Canadian colleagues studying the Canadian Justice System and discussing problems of common concern.

Judge Oxner’s interest in Nova Scotia’s legal history has caused her not only to publish on the topic herself, but also to give leadership and encourage others to research this important area.  Her concern with the relative lack of community involvement in the highly professionalized Canadian justice system encouraged her to be the prime mover in the creation of journalism courses on legal issues, and to teach journalism students principles of the justice system.

Among many other offices in community and humanitarian organizations, Judge Oxner was formerly a Governor of the University of King’s College, a director of the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia, an executive member of the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust Association, an executive member of the Atlantic Council of Christians and Jews, and a member of the National Advisory Committee on the Female Offender.  Her many previous awards include the Freedom of the City of London in 1988 for her Commonwealth work, the Canada 125 Medal, and the Osgoode Society Legal History Award in 1993.  In 1996 she was appointed to a one year term as a consultant on judicial reform with the World Bank in Washington.

Her tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and leadership provide inspiration to all Dalhousie Law School graduates.  The Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service honours her extraordinary dedication to community and professional service.