Julian Falconer

This final interview with civil rights lawyer Julian Falconer focuses on his ongoing high-profile litigation work, particularly the Schaeffer-Minty case concerning police shootings of mentally disabled individuals. Falconer describes challenging police practices including officers sharing lawyers and keeping two sets of notes, which he successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2013. The case involved 19 lawyers and attracted significant institutional support, demonstrating widespread concern about police accountability.

Falconer also discusses his expansion into First Nations law, including opening a Thunder Bay office and representing Nishnawbe Aski Nation on jury roll exclusion issues. His work led to the Iacobucci Report documenting a “crisis” in northern Ontario’s justice system. The interview reveals Falconer’s strategic use of litigation as “an engine of social change,” combining traditional tort law with human rights advocacy to achieve systemic reform.

Throughout the conversation, Falconer emphasizes his team-based approach and commitment to transparency, noting how technology and video evidence have changed public perception of police conduct. He reflects on the Ashley Smith inquest, environmental litigation involving wind turbines, and his role as a Law Society Bencher, while maintaining his focus on empowering marginalized communities through strategic litigation.

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