In recognition of his lasting contributions to how the justice system understands and responds to the voices and interests of children, youth and families, Queen’s University Professor Nicholas Bala has received the prestigious 2025 David Walter Mundell Medal, awarded by the Attorney General of Ontario for excellence in legal writing.
His interdisciplinary research with psychologists, criminologists and health professionals has helped deepen understanding of how the justice system affects children, youth and families, while informing important youth justice reform, including new approaches to assessing children’s testimony.
From 2019 to 2021, Professor Bala led a multidisciplinary task force that developed the Ontario Parenting Plan Guide and Template, now widely used by parents, professionals and courts to support clearer, developmentally appropriate parenting arrangements.
His work has strengthened how children’s interests are considered in family disputes and proceedings, influenced court decisions and policy, and contributed to a long-term decline in youth custody rates. He has also authored or co-authored 26 books and more than 200 articles and book chapters, with his scholarship cited by courts across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada and internationally.
For more information, visit Queen’s University
Published on April 27, 2026.
