On September 13, 2023 criminal defence lawyer extraordinaire Marco Sciarra received The WiCCD Ally Award for 2023.
Marco becomes the second recipient of this award in WiCCD’s not quite two year history – the inaugural award went to John Struthers.
Marco is a true ally who has supported his Women colleagues and WiCCD, since our organization’s inception – it was lovely to be able to present him with the award in person at WiCCD’s first ever hybrid CPD event.
Marco was our presenter for this first of a two-part series he is hosting for WiCCD on Jury Sexual Assault Trials.
You can review WiCCD’s letter to Marco on the occasion of the award here:
• 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 