Alan N. Young | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1, 1956 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 7, 2024 (aged 68) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | York University |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, academic, researcher |
| Known for | Innocence Project |
| Spouse(s) | Rivka (div. 1999) Laura Young [1] |
| Website | York U. Bio |
Alan N. Young (December 1, 1956 – December 7, 2024) was a Canadian lawyer and professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario. Young was notable for leading several Charter challenges against Canadian laws, including the landmark Bedford case which resulted in Canada's prostitution laws being struck down.
After graduating from Osgoode Hall, Young clerked for Chief Justice Bora Laskin of the Supreme Court of Canada and worked as a criminal lawyer in Toronto. In 1986, he joined Osgoode Hall as an associate professor. At Osgoode, he co-founded and directed the school's Innocence Project, which seeks to investigate and overturn cases of wrongful conviction and provides experiential education to law students.
During his 30-year tenure as a law professor, Young maintained a small practice in criminal law and provided free legal consul for cases that could set legal precedents. He was recognized by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of the "Top 25 Most Influential" in the justice system and legal profession in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. In 2018, he was also awarded the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law. He retired in July 2018.