Two criminal law giants reunite as Professor Don Stuart congratulates Don Bayne, Law’69, for receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at Spring Convocation 2017.
Two criminal law giants reunite as Professor Don Stuart congratulates Don Bayne, Law’69, for receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at Spring Convocation 2017. (Photo by Greg Black)

This is a case of one Queen’s criminal law legend paying tribute to two others, securing opportunities for students with career interests in criminal law. Don Bayne, Law’69, LLD’17, has added an influential gift of $250,000 to the Stuart Delisle Criminal Law Fund established six years ago to honour Professors Don Stuart and the late Ron Delisle, LLB’64 (BSc’59). 

“This important investment in our criminal law program, from a long-time and most generous supporter of the school,” says Dean Bill Flanagan. “Don Bayne’s pledge will more than triple the fund over the next five years, making a significant impact on our criminal law program and on students’ learning opportunities. Those could include specialized courses taught by senior practitioners and judges, moot competitions and internships, high-profile guest speakers and teaching fellows in residence.”  

Faculty will also benefit. Professor Lisa Kelly, Visitors’ Committee co-chair, says, “Junior faculty members are especially grateful for the opportunities this gift creates for cutting-edge scholarship, advocacy and teaching. Thanks to Mr. Bayne’s generosity, we will be convening a panel event this winter to celebrate Professor Stuart’s still-growing legacy. It will feature leading criminal law scholars from across Canada, among them Professors Lisa Dufraimont (Osgoode), Janine Benedet (UBC), David Tanovich, Law’92 (Windsor), and Steve Coughlan (Dalhousie).” 

Kelly will guest edit all panelists’ papers for a special spring volume of the Queen’s Law Journal. Stuart taught both of QLJ’s Law’19 co-editors-in-chief – Levent Karademir and Ryan Mullins.

For the multiple-award-winning Bayne, known across Canada for defending high-profile clients in challenging cases at all levels of court, the decision to donate was easy, he says. “I think the world of Don Stuart, Ron Delisle, Stuart Ryan, Bill Lederman, Dan Soberman and others who made my Queen’s Law experience one of excellence but also warmth and humanity. 

“For decades the work of those criminal law scholars has been invaluable not only to students but also to practitioners. I’m delighted to give back to the school through a program so close to my heart.” 

By Lisa Graham