The renovated moot court at Windsor Law’s Ianni Building, viewed during Justice Paul J. Barnes’ recent return to campus for his Class of ’04 20-year reunion. Justice Barnes, a Windsor Law graduate, was recently appointed to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. (SARAH SMITHERMAN/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
Long before he was appointed a seat on the bench of Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, Paul J. Barnes was learning how to think on his feet in a Windsor Law courtroom, honing the civil litigation skills that would define his legal career.
Barnes, a member of Windsor Law’s class of 2004, has been appointed an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, the Government of Ontario announced last month.
The appointment marks a new chapter for a lawyer whose professional path was shaped early by hands-on litigation training, mentorship and a lasting connection to Windsor Law.
As a student, Barnes gravitated quickly toward civil litigation, choosing courses that emphasized courtroom practice over transactional work.
One class, in particular, stood out.
Civil Trial Advocacy, taught by Justice Doug Phillips, provided practical instruction in courtroom procedure, witness examination and persuasive argument — lessons Barnes carried with him throughout more than 20 years of legal practice.
Windsor was more than a place to study law. Barnes spent three continuous years living in the city, including two summers working as a customs inspector at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge.
The experience anchored him in the community and remains a fond part of his law school memories.
Those memories resurfaced when Barnes returned to campus for his Class of 2004 milestone reunion last June.
“Seeing the newly renovated Faculty of Law was both familiar and striking,” he said. “While the historic structure of the Ianni Building remains, its transformation reflected how the faculty has continued to grow and modernize since my student days.”
Throughout his career, Barnes has placed strong emphasis on education and mentorship, designing and teaching Toronto Metropolitan University’s inaugural insurance law course and guiding young lawyers entering litigation practice. He believes legal education is most effective when it bridges theory and real-world experience.
“Young lawyers get the most out of learning from seasoned lawyers who understand not just the law, but also client dynamics and the practical realities of litigation,” Barnes said.
As he steps into his new judicial role, Barnes believes judges have an important responsibility to continue that tradition of mentorship, when possible.
By teaching, participating in moots and speaking directly with students, Barnes says members of the judiciary can offer invaluable insight into what works in the courtroom — and what does not — from effective advocacy to professional conduct in high-pressure litigation. That firsthand guidance, he believes, strengthens the skills of new graduates and young lawyers, helping the justice system operate more smoothly overall.
For Windsor Law, Barnes’ appointment is both a point of pride and a reminder of the lasting impact of experiential learning — from the classroom to the courtroom, and now, to the bench.