What was your path into law and onto the bench?
I grew up in Calgary, completed my undergraduate degree in economics and English at Queen’s University in Kingston, and went to law school at the University of Toronto. While at law school, I became deeply interested in issues of social justice and developed a curiosity to learn: how the law works, how it evolves, and how it can be used to advance fairness.
My innate curiosity led to a legal career that was deliberately varied. I articled at a full-service firm in Toronto and then completed a Master of Laws from New York University. When I returned to Toronto, I practised criminal defence through an equality-rights lens, representing women, both as complainants in sexual assault proceedings and as accused persons and prisoners. That work brought me into close contact with racialized, Indigenous, and immigrant clients. Working closely with vulnerable communities profoundly shaped how I understand advocacy and justice.
After starting a family, I sought greater work-life balance and became the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. In that role, I worked closely with students while broadening my advocacy experiences with appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada and the United Nations.
In 2015, before the age of 40, I was appointed Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. I was often the youngest and the only racialized person at the decision-making table. That experience reinforced for me the importance of public institutions being rooted in community, the value of meaningful engagement, and the necessity of Indigenous reconciliation through relationship-building. I eventually applied to the bench, something that had long been a dream of mine despite what some might consider an unconventional career path.
What experience in your legal career best prepared you for work on the bench?
My career has always involved synthesizing complicated materials and making quick decisions, which is very good training for being a judge. At its core, judging is about reading, writing, and analysis. Judges must absorb large volumes of material very quickly and produce decisions at a pace that often surprises lawyers and the public alike. At best, a small number of cases each year allow for extended deliberation and multiple drafts; most decisions must be concise, and timely. Equally important is decisiveness. While appellate review is an essential safeguard, a trial judge must be comfortable making decisions in the moment and then moving forward without constant second-guessing.
My career also gave me extensive exposure to marginalized communities, particularly through criminal defence and human rights work. That experience has been invaluable in helping me approach cases with empathy and a deep awareness of the human realities that come into the courtroom every day.
What advice to you have for counsel who appear before you?
I encourage counsel to remember that, in busy jurisdictions like Brampton, judges often receive case materials only one day before the scheduled appearance. As a result, counsel should assume they know the facts far better than the judge and structure their submissions accordingly. Start at the beginning. Don’t jump straight into the most complex legal issue without first grounding the court in the factual context. Guide me step-by-step to the real issue in the case. Focus on what truly matters and resist the temptation to spend time on peripheral points that don’t advance the analysis.
I also place significant importance on technological competence. In a system that relies heavily on electronic records, counsel must be able to navigate digital materials smoothly and direct the court clearly to the relevant documents. Difficulty with technology is one of my most frequent day-to-day frustrations on the bench, and can lead to adjournment and an award of costs thrown away.
What do you wish the public knew about the justice system?
The justice system is something Canadians should genuinely cherish. Before joining the bench, I knew very few judges. Once I became a judge, I quickly learned that regardless of who appointed them or their personal views, judges are deeply committed to the rule of law, fairness, and justice. They work extraordinarily hard and take their responsibilities very seriously.
At the same time, judges are human beings. The judiciary is a collective of individuals striving to decide cases impartially and fairly. In a time when public confidence in institutions can be fragile, I believe Canada’s justice system is something we should not take for granted. It is a unique and valuable institution, and one that deserves to be supported.