WiCCD is pleased to announce that Cassandra DeMelo who has served as our Treasurer since the organization’s inception is now Acting President of WiCCD until such time as elections can be held pursuant to our new governance structure.
Cassandra has been a recognized leader in criminal law and in particular for women in defence throughout her career and we are privileged to have the benefit of her leadership at this time.
As Acting President Cassandra will be at the helm of a 750 woman criminal defence association whose lawyer and paralegal members continue to grow every day into a burgeoning force in all forums involving the criminal law and administration of justice.
• 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 