Toronto, ON, August 6, 2026 – The Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) has awarded the prestigious G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal to the Honourable David M. Paciocco. The award will be presented Saturday, November 21, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m. at a special…
Marlys Edwardh — March 6, 1950 – July 14, 2026 Marlys was a fearless advocate for justice whose extraordinary career helped shape Canadian criminal and constitutional law. As one of the first women to practise criminal defence in Canada, she broke barriers in a profession where few women…
Members of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association’s (CLA) Legislation committee provided written submissions to the provincial Standing Committee on Justice Policy with respect to Bill 119, “Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act”. The CLA is deeply concerned that the creation of a public website containing the personal information of…
On June 12, 2026, Cassandra Richards, Co-chair of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association Legislation (CLA) Committee, appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs‘ study of Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act on behalf of the CLA. You can watch the CLA’s submissions here:…
Open to Full/Active CLA members only. Applications for mentees/mentors – deadline is March 31, 2026 For the period of May 1 to November 30, 2026, recent calls (new to 5 years) will be paired with seasoned CLA members. Mentors will be assigned or matched up…
The Criminal Lawyers’ Association, in conjunction with the Women’s Committee and Diversity Committee of the CLA, is deeply concerned by the allegations surrounding the events involving Sudine Riley on Friday, January 23, 2026 at the Durham courthouse. As stated in a Press Release from Ms. Riley’s counsel, dated…
Limited Bonus Member Discounts include: Additional benefits: _________________________________________________ FULL MEMBERS – practising criminal defence lawyers IN Ontario: STUDENT MEMBERS – students-at-law or students in an accredited law school OBSERVER MEMBERS – practising criminal defence lawyers OUTSIDE Ontario: Affiliate Membership – An Affiliate member shall be any person who shall apply for such membership that…
The team at the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) would like to extend our best wishes to you all for a safe and peaceful holiday season. We hope you enjoy your time and festivities with family and friends, and we look forward to what the new year brings!…
The Criminal Lawyers’ Association’s (CLA) Women’s Committee is proud to announce the Extended Leave Roster. Developed by the 2023–2025 Women’s Committee and carried forward by the 2025–2027 Women’s Committee, this initiative marks real, actionable leadership in tackling gender-based barriers in criminal defence practice. With its launch, the…
Recent calls from politicians at both the federal and provincial levels to “get tough on crime” are misguided. Proposals such as automatically denying bail, imposing American-style “three-strikes” laws, and resurrecting unconstitutional mandatory minimums strip judges of discretion and undermines fairness in our courts. These measures are not solutions…
