STEPHEN WHITZMAN, Toronto Criminal Defence Lawyer
Stephen Whitzman was called to the Bar in 1978. He has tried virtually every criminal offence, from Vagrancy to Murder, including offences (such as Rape) since repealed, and has appeared in every court from Provincial Offences Court to the Supreme Court of Canada – again, including courts (such as the County Court) no longer in existence. He has also appeared in the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench and the Alberta Provincial Court.
From 2014-24, he was senior counsel at Daley, Byers and conducted almost all of their Superior Court trials as well as many trials in the Court of Justice. In addition, he also appeared occasionally before administrative tribunals. At Hicks Adams, his practice will be devoted almost exclusively to appeals. He has been counsel of record in 150 reported decisions.
Stephen has a Master of Laws degree as well as a B.A. and an LL.B., both law degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School. In 1990 he was certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Criminal Litigation, and was a member of its Certification panel. He was recertified as a Specialist in Criminal Law in 2019, and that certification has been renewed annually since then.
He has been Chair of the Criminal Justice Section Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ont.) and a Member at Large of the Criminal Justice Section of the Ontario Bar Association. He has taught Advocacy at the Bar Admission Course and Business Law at Seneca and Humber Colleges. He has published learned articles in the Criminal Law Quarterly and in Criminal Reports and was co-editor of Critical Concepts of Canadian Business Law, 3rd ed. His article on the co-conspirators’ exception to the hearsay rule was cited by the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also written for the legal press.
Stephen has been interviewed in the press and on television, and has been featured in the legal press for cases he has argued. He recently spoke to an upper year class of journalism students at Carleton University regarding an important case he was arguing before the Supreme Court of Canada.
He is one of the wittier lawyers around – or so he likes to think. He was, during a break from the Bar, a member of ACTRA, the Canadian film and TV actors’ union, and has appeared as an actor in film, television, and on stage. He has also participated in a professional poker tournament in Barcelona, Spain, and hopes to participate in others. But he’s not giving up his day job.
Recent Media Appearances: Legal Commentary & Criminal Law Analysis
Webcast – Dwayne Alexander Campbell v. His Majesty the King
Associate, Stephen Whitzman appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in Dwayne Alexander Campbell v. His Majesty the King.
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