Carissima Mathen named Executive Co-Editor of 6th edition of Canadian Constitutional Law

By Common Law

Communication, Faculty of Law

Professors
Carissima Mathen named Executive Co-Editor of 6th edition of Canadian Constitutional Law
Professor Carissima Mathen has been named Executive Co-Editor of the upcoming 6th edition of the leading textbook Canadian Constitutional Law. Addtionally, Professor Vanessa MacDonnell, Co-Director of the uOttawa Public Law Centre, and Professor Peter Oliver, founding Co-Director, have been named to the book’s Editorial Board.

Emond Publishing describes the book as “the most comprehensive casebook and teaching resource on Canadian constitutional law.”

“This interdisciplinary text emphasizes the rich history of various features of the Canadian Constitution … such as Indigenous peoples and the Constitution, constitutional history and interpretation, Canadian Federalism, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Professor Mathen will work with current Executive Co-Editor Professor Patrick Macklem of the University of Toronto. They will oversee the entire text and contribute to particular chapters.

“Over the last 18 years, I have taught constitutional law relying on this textbook, so it is all the more thrilling for me to join Patrick and the team in this important role," said Professor Mathen.

Professor Mathen is the author of Courts Without Cases: The Law and Politics of Advisory Opinions (Hart, 2019) and The Tenth Justice: Judicial Appointments, Marc Nadon, and the Supreme Court Act Reference (UBC Press, 2020) (with Michael Plaxton). Previously, she was Director of Litigation for the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) where she undertook path-breaking equality rights litigation.  An award-winning media commentator, Professor Mathen is committed to public education and legal literacy. She is a 2018 recipient of the Law Society Medal, one of the highest honours bestowed by the Law Society of Ontario. 

“As Executive Co-Editor, Carissima brings her wealth of constitutional knowledge, her practical legal experience, and her administrative strengths to the project, and I'm excited to be working with her,” said Professor Macklem.

“We have exciting plans for the edition, including enhanced coverage of Indigenous issues and criminal law and the Charter.”

The next edition of the book is scheduled to be released in September 2021.