Mr. David Lepofsky

This oral history interview with David Lepofsky provides a comprehensive account of his distinguished career as a Crown counsel in the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General from 1982 to 2006. Born blind, Lepofsky overcame significant educational and professional barriers to become one of Ontario’s most prominent government lawyers, handling major constitutional, civil, and criminal cases including landmark Charter of Rights cases and high-profile Court of Appeal matters.

The interview extensively covers Lepofsky’s pioneering advocacy work for disability rights, particularly his leadership role in creating and lobbying for the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. He describes the political strategies, community organizing techniques, and legislative processes involved in achieving this groundbreaking accessibility legislation. Lepofsky also discusses his opposition to the McGuinty government’s 2006 Human Rights Code reforms, which he viewed as weakening enforcement mechanisms.

Throughout the interview, Lepofsky provides insights into the evolution of the Attorney General’s Ministry, the impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on government legal practice, workplace accommodations for lawyers with disabilities, and the balance between public service and community advocacy. His account offers valuable perspectives on both the practice of government law and the development of disability rights in Ontario during a transformative period in Canadian legal history.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.