A Canadian judge has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Yale University.

Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella was recognized for her achievements on Monday.

In a news release, Yale said it was honouring Abella, "one of the world's finest living judges."

"You approach your work with zest, empathy, and superb intelligence," the university said in a description of Abella's law career. "You defend human rights and justice in your home nation of Canada and around the globe."

Abella was born to Holocaust survivors in a Displaced Person's Camp in Stuttgart, Germany in 1946. Her family came to Canada as refugees in 1950.

She graduated from the University of Toronto with a law degree in 1970, and practiced civil and criminal litigation until 1976, when she was appointed to the Ontario Family Court at the age of 29. At the time, she was the youngest and first pregnant person appointed to the judiciary in Canada. In 1992, she was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Her theories on equality and discrimination, developed during the 1984 federal Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, were later adopted by the Supreme Court of Canada in its first decision dealing with equality rights under the charter.

Her recommendations have since been implemented by the governments of New Zealand, Northern Ireland, and South Africa.

Prior to her appointment to the highest court in the country in 2004, Abella served as Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations board, Chair of the Ontario Law Reform Commission, and commissioner on the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

In addition to the honorary degree from Yale, she has been awarded various distinctions including honours from the University of Toronto, the Canadian Bar Association, the Royal Society of Canada, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In its news release, Yale noted Abella's work always aims to protect the rights of all of humanity.

"Your pioneering judgments have extended the protection of law to all. You are a champion of the vulnerable and an inspiration to everyone," the university said. "You know that indifference is injustice's incubator. We are proud of your service to Yale, and honoured to name you Doctor of Laws."