November 20, 2020
And it’s a WIN!! The SCC Judgment in G. v Ontario is just out upholding our Court of Appeal that NCR accused absolutely discharged MUST have an opportunity to seek exemption from the application of Christopher’s Law (Ontario’s Sex Offender Registry) here: https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/18563/index.do
“In addition to being stigmatized as dangerous, forced compliance with registry requirements, as the intervener the Empowerment Council notes, can also contribute to a “double stigma” for those found NCRMD, as a result of being considered both “mentally ill” and a “sexual offender.”
That’s the quote from our Factum as filed for our client the Empowerment Council – see paragraph 66 of the Judgment. Lots of great pronouncements and recognition of the discrimination faced by our clients in this wonderful Judgment.
About Anita Szigeti
• 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 