“Black Histories and Futures Month invites us to honour the brilliance and leadership of Black members of our Queen’s Law community,” says Dean Colleen M. Flood. “We take great pride in our Black students, alumni, and scholars, who continue to break down barriers and strengthen the pursuit of justice. We are committed to a learning environment where every student has the opportunity to excel and contribute to a more equitable future.”

In recognition of Black Histories and Futures Month, Queen’s Law will feature activities, stories, and displays throughout February. Highlights include:

Research Talk: Slang, Expertise, and Racialized Injustice

Reakash Walters, the Stuart-Delisle Research Fellow at Queen’s Law, JSD candidate at UC Berkeley, and former defence lawyer, will present a talk titled “Slang Epistemologies: The Reliability of Police Expertise in Criminal Trials.”

Walters will examine how courts’ reliance on police interpretations of “street” language can introduce untested assumptions into evidence, obscuring lived experience and reinforcing forms of racialized epistemic injustice.

This hybrid event takes place Feb. 10, 4:30–5:30 pm. Learn more and register on the Events page.

Walters is also teaching Sentencing and Imprisonment to JD students this term.

Queen’s Team Competes in the Isaac Moot

A Queen’s Law team will participate in the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot, a national competition dedicated to deepening discourse on equity and diversity in Canadian law. This year’s problem examines the legal standard for identifying racial mistreatment in claims of breaches of the Canadian Charter, using the Superior Court of Justice ruling in R v. Murray as its foundation.

Named in honour of the late Chief Justice Julius Alexander Isaac, the first Black judge to sit on the Federal Court of Canada, the moot encourages participants to consider how criminal and constitutional law can be strengthened to better address anti‑Black racism and the less‑developed area of racial mistreatment in Canadian jurisprudence.

Oralists Arun Balendran, Law’26, and Albert Lin, Law’27, will argue both sides of the fictional appeal. They are coached by Professor Lisa Kelly and Ashkan Haghighat, Law’26, who also serves as team researcher. The competition takes place Jan. 30–Feb. 1 in Toronto.

Spotlight on Doctoral Research: Abebe Alemu, PhD’25

Queen’s Law will profile Abebe Alemu, PhD’25, whose doctoral research investigates the barriers facing deaf people in Ethiopia’s justice system, drawing on best practices from Canadian jurisprudence. His work calls for urgent law reform to protect the fundamental rights of deaf people and ensure meaningful accessibility. He acknowledges the invaluable mentorship and guidance of Professor Cherie Metcalf throughout his doctoral studies.

Before joining Queen’s, Alemu served as Dean of Law and Director of Legal Aid at the University of Gondar (UoG). He came to Queen’s as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar through a partnership supporting graduate training in disability and inclusion across Africa.

Queen’s Students to Attend BLSA Canada’s 35th Annual National Conference

Twenty‑five members of the Black Law Students’ Association – Queen’s chapter will attend BLSA Canada’s National Conference in Montreal from Feb. 12–15. As Canada’s largest gathering of Black law students, the conference fosters networking, mentorship, professional development, and the chance to connect with peers from across the country.

QBLSA co‑presidents Ryyan Elgalal and Madison Shearer, both Law’26, say they most look forward to the strong sense of community the conference cultivates. “Over the years, we have built genuine friendships with students across chapters, and the conference is one of the few spaces where Black law students from across the country can come together, feel fully seen, and celebrate one another. It is also especially meaningful for our Queen’s chapter, as it creates lasting memories and a sense of closure to the year we’ve spent building together.”

Lederman Law Library Display

Throughout February, the Lederman Law Library will showcase a new display celebrating Black excellence and remembering Black histories. Featured texts include:

•    Biographies and memoirs of prominent Black Canadians and lawyers
•    Legal scholarship on race and racism in Canada
•    Works examining the Black Lives Matter movement and contemporary activism

Events Across Queen’s and Kingston

Queen’s University and the Kingston community will also host events throughout the month celebrating Black arts, culture, research, history, and community.

Explore the full events calendar.