Deans Emeriti of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law: (1943-1949) W.P.M. Kennedy; (1984-1990) J. Robert S. Prichard; (1990-1995) Robert Sharpe; (1995-2005) Ronald J. Daniels; (2006-2014) Mayo Moran (SJD 1999); (2014–2020) Ed Iacobucci.
A generous gift from University of Toronto alumni Jean Fraser (JD 1975) and Thomas F. Rahilly (LLB 1969) has made it possible to recognize the history and legacy of leadership at U of T’s Faculty of Law.
Five new Deans Emeriti portraits by Toronto-based artist, Joanne Tod, were unveiled during a small gathering at U of T Alumni Reunion this spring. An earlier portrait by Tod of Dean Emeritus (1984-1990) and U of T President Emeritus (1990-200) J. Robert S. Prichard (LLB 1975, Hon. LLD 2002) was also revealed at the event.
The portraits join previously commissioned paintings recognizing Deans Emeriti (1949-1965) Cecil “Caesar” Wright; Ronald St. (1965-1972) John Macdonald; (1972-1979) Martin Friedland (LLB 1958) and (1979-1983) the Hon. Frank Iacobucci.
"We are most grateful to Jean Fraser and Tomas Rahilly for their remarkable gift, as these portraits will be part of the law school – and its history – in perpetuity,” said University Professor and Dean Jutta Brunnée, James Marshall Tory Dean’s Chair. "In walking past these portraits every day, I am inspired by my predecessors’ many contributions to the law school."
Tod, a Professor Emerita of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, remarked it was a privilege to paint so many works of significance to the faculty. She prepared a short video of her artistic process, highlighting the first female Dean of the law school, Dean Emerita (2006-2014) Mayo Moran (SJD 1999). The portrait paintings can be viewed outside the Martin F. Friedland Dean’s Suite on the fourth floor of the Jackman Law Building.
Among the new portraits is Dean Emeritus (1943–1949) W. P. M. Kennedy, the first Dean of U of T Law. A Canadian historian, Kennedy authored The Constitution of Canada (1922) and other works that had a profound impact on legal, constitutional, and political scholarship in Canada.
At the time of Kennedy’s tenure, U of T offered a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Law. Although Kennedy had never formally studied law himself, he strongly advocated for a foundational legal education for lawyers, whose traditional pathway to the profession was through the Law Society of Upper Canada.
His portrait was unveiled by Dean Emeritus (1972-1979) Martin L. Friedland (LLB 1958), who authored Kennedy’s biography, W.P.M. Kennedy: The Biography of an Enigma (University of Toronto Press 2020). Friedland also raised a glass to the historic legal leader.
The new portraits will add to the rich history of law at U of T, first established in 1887. Today’s modern law school, starting in 1949 under the helm of Dean Emeritus (1949-1965) Cecil Wright, will celebrate 75 years in 2024.
Dean Emeritus W.P.M. Kennedy (1943-1949), portrait painting unveiled by Dean Emeritus (1972-1979) Martin L. Friedland (LLB 1958)
Dean Emeritus (1984-1990) J. Robert S. Prichard (LLB 1975, Hon. LLD 2002) portrait painting unveiled by Dean Emerita (2006-2014) Mayo Moran (SJD 1999) and University Professor & Dean Jutta Brunnée
Dean Emeritus (1990-1995) Robert Sharpe (LLB 1970) portrait painting unveiled by Sharpe
Dean Emeritus (1995-2005) Ronald J. Daniels (LLB 1996) portrait painting unveiled by University Professor and Dean Jutta Brunnée
Dean Emerita (2006-2014) Mayo Moran (SJD 1999) portrait painting unveiled by Moran
Dean Emeritus (2014–2020) Ed Iacobucci portrait painting unveiled by Dean Emeritus (1979-1983) the Hon. Frank Iacobucci and Nancy Iacobucci
