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

Women’s Threads: The Evolution of my Relationship to my Court Gowns Over the Last 30 years

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

Gowning. Women’s threads. Here is mine. We all have our own relationships to our court robes. When I was called to the bar in 1992, I was dead broke. I bought a used 100% genuine polyester gown that had a … Continue reading →

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The Empowerment Council in the Supreme Court of Canada: 20 years of Unprecedented Intervention in Precedent Setting Cases in Our Country’s Top Court

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

Looking forward to giving this Keynote Address at the Empowerment Council’s AGM tonight – December 6, 2021. One of the major highlights of my career has been working as counsel to the Empowerment Council over two decades and taking instructions … Continue reading →

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What To Expect When You’re NCR and What to Explain When You’re Counsel – OBA Criminal Justice Section November 14, 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

Here is an article I co-authored with Maya Kotob to assist criminal defence counsel in addressing the potential for an NCR Verdict in the appropriate case. https://www.oba.org/Sections/Criminal-Justice/Articles/Articles-2021/November-2021/What-to-Expect-when-youre-NCR-and-What-to-Explain What to Expect when you’re NCR and What to Explain when you’re Counsel[i] … Continue reading →

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My (Excellent) Time as the Women’s Director for the Criminal Lawyer’s Association (Nov 2020-Nov 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

I served as a Toronto Director on the CLA’s Board for six years 2013-2019. For the first three terms, a total of six years, I was the Chair of the Mental Disorder Portfolio. In that capacity, I built the MD … Continue reading →

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Women in the Criminal Defence Bar – Part II – LEAVING

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

This is the second in a series of installments, representing only my personal views and experiences and not that of any association where I hold or have held any position in governance or otherwise, nor necessarily reflecting the views of … Continue reading →

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Women in the Criminal Defence Bar – My views – Part I – Implicit Biases in Communications and Messaging

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

This is the first in a series of Blog Entries about the Plight of Women and non-binary or trans colleagues in the criminal defence bar. Nothing expressed here represents the views of any organization or association where I have held … Continue reading →

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LSO A2J Week 2021 Panel Presentation on Best Practices in Serving Clients with Mental Health Issues

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

Video Recording of the LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO’s Access to Justice Week 2021 (Oct 26 2021) Panel Presentation on Best Practices in Representing Clients with Serious Mental Health Issues is now available here: https://lso.freestonelms.com/viewer/ESxXnKESs9TUtFPiBpPsQMhNMxQYjn4P48AvXjRdYrQxxfKoQakjC8tptWSk3ek You may have to sign in … Continue reading →

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Trauma-Informed Lawyering and Mental Health Issues

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

This post is about my participation on a panel, including discussing treatment conditions of bail, during the Annual Criminal Law Conference for duty counsel with LAO held on November 11, 2021. I was asked by LAO to also address trauma … Continue reading →

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Law Times Covers ORB Ruling on Seclusion and the Requirement of Notice by Hospitals to the Board Nov 1 2021

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

https://www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-areas/criminal/hospitals-must-give-notice-when-seclusion-of-an-ncr-accused-exceeds-seven-days-ontario-review-board/361297 BY Annabel Oromoni 01 Nov 2021 Onus should never be on the not-criminally-responsible accused to notify board of restriction: ORB BY Annabel Oromoni 01 Nov 2021 Share AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedInShare to Email A … Continue reading →

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sexual Behaviours and Phallometrics But Were Afraid to Ask – LAMDA event featuring Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. John Bradford and Lawyer David Sandor Sept 23 2021

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Anita Szigeti

FREE to LAMDA and CLA members. Capped at 100. Substantive CPD 1.5 hours Write to lamda.exec@gmail.com to register. VERY FEW SPOTS REMAINING! Facilitated by the Incomparable Carla Whillier, mental health justice lawyer Carla Whillier is mental health lawyer representing clients … Continue reading →

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