Justice Kofi Barnes

Justice Kofi Barnes is a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He is a former judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. Justice Barnes was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1993. Prior to his judicial career, he was a Deputy Director of the Federal Prosecution Service, Ontario Region.

Justice Barnes is the founder of the Metro West Youth Community Restoration Court; the Durham Mental Health and Drug Treatment Court and co-founder of Canada’s first Drug Treatment Court.

Justice Barnes is the founding president of the Association of Justice and Treatment Professionals. He is the founding past president of the Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals and president of the International Association of Treatment Court Professionals and the National Association of Treatment Therapeutic and Court Professionals.

In addition to his regular judicial duties, Justice Barnes has provided training sessions, in Canada and internationally, on solution focused strategies and innovative approaches to justice. He is a co-editor of People Places and Things – Inspirational Voices from Canada’s Drug Treatment Courts – published by Friesen Press.

Barnes is the recipient of many awards including the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Commemorative medal, Trent University Distinguished Alumni Award, the York University Bryden Awards and the African Canadian Achievement Awards for Excellence in Law.