Deborah Coyne: the law professor

By Rachel MacGregor

Deborah Margaret Ryland Coyne is a 50-year-old Canadian from She grew up in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa.  She is a lawyer, university professor, activist, writer and mother.

Coyne attended Queens University, graduated with honours, then went to Osgoode Hall Law School graduating top of her class. She also has a Masters in International Law from Oxford University, England.

She taught law at the University of Toronto. She also worked for Clyde Wells a premier at the time for whom of which she moved to Newfoundland for.

In 1991 Coyne gave birth to a daughter, Sarah, whose father is Pierre Trudeau. She also had a son with a journalist who she divorced.  She entered the leadership race last June.