Justice Kofi N. 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 (Public Prosecution Service of Canada).

Justice Barnes is known as a pioneer and innovator in therapeutic jurisprudence and a champion of social justice. Justice Barnes came to Canada from Ghana and attended Trent University and then Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.

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. For more information click this link: https://youtu.be/tuGP6gU9CvM.

Justice Barnes is the founding president of the not-for-profit organization Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals and president of the International Association of Drug Treatment Courts. In addition, to his regular judicial duties, Justice Barnes has provided training sessions on solution focused strategies and innovative approaches to justice. He is a co-author of People Places and Things – Inspirational Stories 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 Bryden Awards and the African-Canadian Achievement Awards for Excellence in Law.