Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2004-05-13
Invested on: 2005-03-11
Julien Payne has had a profound influence on the evolution of family law in Canada. As one of Canada's eminent family law and dispute resolution experts, he was instrumental in developing Unified Family Courts, no-fault divorce, and the guidelines governing spousal and child support. He is an outstanding scholar whose extensive works have been cited by the courts and whose expertise and counsel have been widely sought by governments and law reform agencies. For over 20 years, he taught at the University of Ottawa and later served as chair of the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan. A mentor and role model, he has left an indelible legacy of scholarship to generations of students.