Author Archives: Anita Szigeti

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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

Bye bye Mad Max – What a way to put a miserable season out of its misery – The Last Home Game of the 2026 Season went out with a loud, great bang!

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

We were super happy in the ballpark today, as a family. Max Sherzer on the mound is a beautiful thing and he did not disappoint on his last outing out as a Blue Jay most likely, and ever, possibly.

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Buy Your Friends’ Books and Buy Your Friends Books – the feelgood story of legal careers

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

There are many ways in our noble profession to support our colleagues but nothing compares to the joy you’ll feel when you buy legal texts they’ve written or other things they’ve published. Why? ’cause you’ll be in their good books, … Continue reading →

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September 24 comes around every year – it’s always very difficult and today’s no different, just later

Posted on September 24, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

A somewhat more personal update on the Star’s reporting series on locked seclusion from me today. Today is the 15th anniversary of my father’s death and the 34th anniversary of my call to the Ontario Bar.  My Dad would have found … Continue reading →

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How Ontario kept a man in isolation for 20+ years – A Podcast Interview with Toronto Star reporter Jacques Gallant about his Seclusion Series (Sept 21 2026)

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

The Big Story Jacques Gallant‘s commitment to exploring the issue of long-term seclusion at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care is extraordinary. In this podcast he discusses some of the material he reviewed to inform himself and efforts he’s made to … Continue reading →

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WiCCD’s EMOAT is around the corner! Announcing Women in Canadian Criminal Defence’s Inaugural Experiential Mentorship in Oral Advocacy Training program – supporting Women in the Intervention Bar!

Posted on September 19, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

Always leading the way, WiCCD is rolling out another first!! I am incredibly proud of this innovative, unique program Women In Canadian Criminal Defence has built to support women representing interveners in the Supreme Court of Canada | Cour suprême … Continue reading →

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Who gets the speaking part at the Supreme Court of Canada

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

An important paper has just been published on this issue and I would urge everyone who cares about gender representation in the legal profession to review it. I encourage everyone to read this article. available here:  https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/jlsp/vol38/iss1/7 The Closed Door … Continue reading →

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On losses (Lost cases anyway) ……

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

**Edited** after some reflecting and learning to count on my fingers I suppose….. ***PS – As I sat here licking my wounds for a minute, wallowing in the permissible five minutes of self-pity, I suddenly realized one lost judgment actually … Continue reading →

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Toronto Star Investigative Series on Waypoint’s Long-Term Seclusion Cases continues – Andrea Monteiro’s Assessment Report regarding Andrew Azevedo and the Ministry of Health’s “Investigation” of Waypoint

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

On this blog you’ll find a link to all of Jacques Gallant’s Toronto Star reporting on these important issues as the articles appeared in the Star throughout April and May of 2026, here: A further follow-up piece by Jacques Gallant … Continue reading →

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WiCCD’s Inaugural Intervention Mentorship Moot – Oct 3 2026 – Getting Ready for the Supreme Court of WiCCD!

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

I am always gratified when a junior lawyer reaches out to ask me to help them moot their submissions to the Supreme Court of Canada or on another appeal – it is literally my favourite thing to do. While there … Continue reading →

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CBA National Magazine covers the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Report on Mental Health in Criminal Justice – July 28 2026

Posted on August 15, 2026 by Anita Szigeti

Moira Donovan’s insightful article, Falling Through the Bars includes comments from Howard Sapers, Amy Matychuk and Andrea Monteiro as well as by me. Falling through the bars People experiencing mental illness and challenges are overrepresented in Canada’s criminal justice system, … Continue reading →

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