Received word that my client the Empowerment Council – advocates extraordinaire – has been granted leave to intervene in a case I’ve been committed to ensuring justice is done for over a decade – G v Ontario – the case for exemption of NCR accused from Sex Offender Registries – I will be back in the SCC for a 10th time on February 20, honouring my mother’s memory – would have been her 89th birthday that day. And my 17 year old daughter will be re-joining me in the gallery. The last time she was there was also her first time and mine. Here we are pictured at the top court on January 15, 2003, when I was acting as Amicus Curiae in the case of Professor Starson and daughter Scarlett was a new babe – just 10 weeks. Nothing like nursing in the Supreme Court parking lot ladies – never let them tell you being a lawyer Mom is not glamorous. At least this time I’m spared that.
January 15, 2003, The Case of Canada’s “Beautiful Mind” – Amicus Curiae in the case of Professor Starson
• Called to the Bar (1992)
• U of T Law grad (1990)
• Sole practitioner (33 years)
• Partner in small law firm (Hiltz Szigeti) 2002 - 2013
• Mom to two astonishing kids, Scarlett (20+) and Sebastian (20-)
• (Founding) Chair of Mental Health Legal Committee for ten years (1997 to 2007)
* Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association - LAMDA since 2017
* Founder and Secretary to Women in Canadian Criminal Defence - WiCCD - since 2022
• Counsel to clients with serious mental health issues before administrative tribunals and on appeals
• Former Chair, current member of LAO’s mental health law advisory committee
• Educator, lecturer, widely published author (including 5 text books on consent and capacity law, Canadian civil mental health law, the criminal law of mental disorder, a law school casebook and a massive Anthology on all things mental health and the law)
• Thirty+ years’ experience as counsel to almost exclusively legally aided clients
• Frequently appointed amicus curiae
• Fearless advocate
• Not entirely humourless
anitaszigeti 