McGill University — B.A. (Honours), 1970 Western University (Western Law) — LL.B., 1973; graduated as the Gold Medalist, the highest academic honour awarded to the top law graduate Western University — Honorary Doctorate, 2024 Law Society of Ontario — Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D., honoris causa), conferred on June 24, 2024, at the Call to the Bar ceremony in Toronto Doherty was also a member of the Western Mustangs football team that won the 1971 Vanier Cup, defeating the Alberta Golden Bears 15–14 for Western's first national championship.

Called to the Bar of Ontario in 1975

Doherty began his legal career at the Crown Law Office – Criminal of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, where he arrived in September 1973 as an articling student. The Crown Law Office became his first professional home, and he would remain there for over a decade. His mentor at the Crown Law Office was Clay Powell, the larger-than-life director of the Crown Law Office – Criminal. Powell had headed a new special prosecutions section beginning in 1965, building a group of bright, fair-minded, and superb prosecutors known for boldly tackling difficult and complicated cases. Doherty has said he owes his career to Clay Powell, and the lessons Powell taught about the responsibilities of Crown counsel and the importance of the criminal justice system infused everything Doherty did throughout his career. As Crown counsel, Doherty prosecuted complex commercial frauds and handled appellate work. He was described as exemplifying the finest traditions of Crown advocacy — fair, hardworking, and unrivalled as both trial and appellate counsel. Notable cases during his Crown career included: The Queen v. Mills — re-argued this groundbreaking Charter appeal for the Crown before the Supreme Court of Canada Regina v. Harry Kopyto — intervened for the Criminal Lawyers' Association before a five-judge panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal

In the summer of 1985, Doherty joined the prominent Bay Street firm of McCarthy & McCarthy (now McCarthy Tétrault). His move to private practice was prompted by a criminal trial called Regina v. West, after which Alan McCarthy encouraged him to come to the firm to learn civil litigation. At McCarthy & McCarthy, Doherty expanded his practice beyond criminal law into civil work, including defending medical malpractice actions, handling commercial disputes, and representing clients in discipline proceedings. A notable case during this period was: The Queen v. Wholesale Travel — conducted the defence at trial in this leading Charter case, which was eventually argued before the Supreme Court of Canada in 1991 by Ian Binnie

Appointed Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) in January 1985, recognizing his distinction as one of Canada's finest criminal lawyers (the designation was later restyled as King's Counsel (K.C.) following the accession of King Charles III)

Throughout his career, Doherty was recognized as an exceptional communicator and a gifted teacher. He contributed to legal education through the Federation of Criminal Law Programs and participated in countless continuing education panels and lectures. His contributions provided the profession with a deeper and more principled understanding of Canadian law.

Queen's Counsel (Q.C.), January 1985 (restyled King's Counsel, K.C.) G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal, Criminal Lawyers' Association, 2019 — awarded in recognition of lifelong achievement and sustained commitment to the principles and advancement of criminal justice in Canada; presented at a gala luncheon on November 16, 2019, during the CLA annual conference in Toronto Honorary Doctorate, Western University Faculty of Law, 2024 Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Law Society of Ontario, June 24, 2024 Best Lawyers in Canada, 2026 edition Considered a front-runner for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions from the 1990s through 2011; described by peers as "our leading judge" and "a genius" in criminal law, though he was ultimately not appointed

Appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario — High Court of Justice on September 2, 1988 Elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario on September 1, 1990 Doherty served on the Court of Appeal for approximately 33.5 years, making him the longest-serving judge in the history of that court and the second-longest-serving appellate judge in Canadian history. Over his tenure he heard more than 6,000 civil and criminal appeals. He retired from the bench in March 2024. Upon his retirement, the Toronto Star described him as "the best judge on any court in the country," adding that "no one has been smarter, fairer, more insightful or articulate." He was known on the Court of Appeal for leading by example in what his colleagues called "the Doherty Way." He has been described as an intensely private person who rarely spoke in public, even on legal issues, throughout his judicial career.