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

NARPA Announces Fall Webinar Series Starting September 2 2020 at 1 pm EST with a talk on “Trauma Translated”

The National Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) is running a series of fall webinars in place of its annual very popular conference this year, due to COVID. Here are the links to the first of the programming – … Continue reading

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Empowerment Council Deputation to the TPSB – August 18 2020 on Police Reform Initiatives

You can view these brilliant submissions by clicking on the link to the document or the text is also copied and pasted below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PbnJbwuWEQjd9rAMdpyxWzHJ6AanARRZ/view?usp=sharing                               THE EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL                                                              A Voice for the Clients of the                                                 Centre for Addiction … Continue reading

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Vice Reporting on Gerstein Centre Mobile Crisis Teams – August 19 2020

I was quoted extensively in this amazing piece by Rachel Browne on the Gerstein Centre’s non-coercive mobile crisis response here: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pkywg7/this-crisis-team-has-handled-mental-health-calls-without-toronto-cops-for-30-years “If I had a dollar for every time I said ‘Call the Gerstein…,’” said Toronto mental health lawyer Anita … Continue reading

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National Post Story looks at Indefinite Detention under the Review Board – August 18 2020

I am quoted at length in this piece about Mr. Wiebe, an accused under the ORB. The comments attributed to me are excerpted below: “Seclusion and restraint, whether mechanical like being strapped to a bed, chemical like being injected with … Continue reading

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LAMDA and CLA conference Materials and Webcast Recording Available for 2019 and 2020 Annual Mental Disorder Law Conferences

LAMDA & @CLA co-host great conferences on mental disorder & criminal law annually. Value for $$! You can buy, for $50 or less, access to the webcast recording of the entire day and all the fabulous materials for the last … Continue reading

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A Guide to Mental Disorder Law in Canadian Criminal Justice

New in 2020, our Guide to Mental Disorder Law in Canadian Criminal Justice is available now. Those who pre-ordered should be getting their copy any day. For anyone still looking to buy one, you can order them online here: https://store.lexisnexis.ca/en/categories/shop-by-jurisdiction/federal-13/a-guide-to-mental-disorder-law-in-canadian-criminal-justice-skusku-cad-6766/detailsContinue reading

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The 2021 Edition of the Guide to Consent and Capacity Law in Ontario is OUT!

Everyone’s enjoying the 2021 (!!) Edition of the Guide to Consent and Capacity Law in Ontario. They’re available now and everyone who pre-ordered should have received theirs. For my part, I am just happy to see 2021 on something. Promises … Continue reading

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What to Do when Unfairly Chastised by the Judiciary or Adjuditor at the Tribunal or Board

This is a vexing problem for counsel. Indeed, when counsel opposite berates you relentlessly and the adjudicator does not intervene, is also incredibly painful to endure. Our Law Society Rules of Professional Conduct (rightly so) prohibit incivility. What incivility means, … Continue reading

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Anita Comments on the Tragic In Custody Death of Soleiman Faqiri – Toronto Star coverage August 6, 2020

The following quote are attributed to me in this Toronto Star article by Alyshah Hasham Courts Reporterand Tom Yun Staff Reporter https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/08/05/tragic-preposterous-family-of-soleiman-faqiri-reacts-as-opp-says-it-wont-charge-jail-guards-in-mentally-ill-ontario-mans-death.html Anita Szigeti, a lawyer who frequently represents clients with mental health issues, said a decision not to charge … Continue reading

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Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA) Arrives on TWITTER!!

Reach us there at https://twitter.com/LAMDACANADAOr email us at lamda.exec@gmail.comFor more info.PS – I am the President. And founder. Since 2017.We have a great Executive Team of Keli Mersereau, Jill Presser, Mary Murphy, Jordan Weisz and Thomas Whillier. Come join us … Continue reading

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