Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award

Award honours lawyer for support of access to justice

April 15, 2025

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is pleased to announce that David Baker is the 2024 recipient of the Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award. Each year, this award recognizes an exceptional individual who has demonstrated a commitment to access to justice for low-income Ontarians.

David’s legal career spans more than four decades, and he is renowned for his legal support of persons with disabilities. He is described as a dedicated advocate whose “name has become synonymous with precedent-setting litigation that has advanced the rights of individuals with disabilities and other marginalized communities.”

On learning of the award, David said, “I’m very, very pleased. When I first went to law school, I started working in student legal aid and saw how difficult it was for people who lack the necessary resources to make their case and get the kinds of judgments we were being taught about. I felt that access to justice for these individuals was an area where we fell short. I’m now thinking about where we have made progress, as well as areas where we still have a ways to go.”

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Legal Aid Ontario created the Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award to honour exceptional individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to helping low-income people, and have given their time and expertise towards ensuring access to justice in Ontario.

The award is named in honour of Justice Sidney B. Linden, Legal Aid Ontario’s first chair of the board of directors. Justice Linden has been involved with legal aid for over 37 years, and his distinguished professional career has been characterized by a genuine commitment to issues concerning access to justice.

Since its inception, the Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award has been presented to 16 deserving recipients: Nancy Cooper, Lois Cromarty, Danny Morton, Timothy Lutes, Mary Birdsell, Grace Pluchino, Ryan Peck, Bob Richardson, William A. (Bill) Sullivan, Fergus J. (Chip) O’Connor, Peter G. Kirby, Michael Bossin, Barbara Jackman, J. Robert Kellermann, Paul Copeland and the late Dianne Martin.

The award statue

Toronto sculptor Siggy Puchta designed the Sidney B. Linden Access to Justice Award. The statue depicts the concept of access to justice through the upward and open gesture of ‘the lady of justice’ holding the scales of justice while at the same time welcoming those in need of legal aid services. Siggy’s design also captures the spirit of LAO’s logo.