The Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) decision to deprive its students of a Thursday afternoon book club meeting with renowned lawyer Marie Henein has raised concerns in the legal community . His presence would send the wrong message to young girls members of the A Room of Your Own club, would have justified the advice, since the criminal lawyer defended CBC host Jian Ghomeshi, accused in 2014 of sexual assault.
According to criminal lawyers, the choice of school board is problematic. “I think most of the criminal lawyers were disappointed and a little confused by the decision,” notes Me Lindsay Board, lawyer with the Toronto firm Daniel Brown Law. “The position of the TDSB demonstrates an alarming and fundamental misunderstanding of the judicial system,” lamented the office of lawyer Henein Hutchison in a statement posted on social networks last week. “I thought it was not only ill-advised, but also really dangerous,” said Mr.e Christine Mainville, a partner at Henein Hutchison, in an interview with The duty.
In a statement, the director of education at the school board said on Nov. 12 that the board did not share the opinion of the superintendent who contacted the book club organizer, Tanya Lee, to inform her of non-participation of students. TDSB employees are now reportedly in the process of developing a procedure for inviting speakers, but students will not be attending the event scheduled for Thursday afternoon. A first for the club, according to Mme Lee.
Me Marie Henein was invited to the A Room of Your Own club event to promote her book Nothing but the truth, in which she explains the nature of her job. The lawyer has defended in recent years many controversial clients, such as Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, accused of breach of trust in 2018. But she became known above all in 2014 for her defense of Jian Ghomeshi, host of the popular radio show Q, found not guilty in 2016.
The book club is aimed at young girls from precarious backgrounds and usually invites students of all ages to monthly events. But given the topic of the month, Tanya Lee had chosen to invite only high school students. Unfortunately, she says, this is a “missed opportunity” for many TDSB students, as the board “didn’t make a good decision.” About a hundred students from other southern Ontario councils will however attend.
A misunderstood profession
Me Christine Mainville is still struggling to explain the decision of the school board. Understanding the role of defense counsel is Me Marie Henein, explains her colleague, and is one of the main themes of the book. By dint of seeing institutions make such decisions, thinks the Franco-Ontarian lawyer, “ [une] idea ”of the job, she said.
“It is more and more worrying to see that there is a misunderstanding of this role, a role, in my opinion, which is fundamental in a constitutional democracy”, explains Me Christine Mainville. “Information is critical. A lot of people do not understand how the work works ”, notes M for her part.e Lindsay Board.
Students’ skills should not be underestimated, either, suggests Mr.e Mainville, an opinion shared by Tanya Lee. The Association of Criminal Lawyers has for its part noted that “the point of view according to which knowledge [des avocats au criminel] are inappropriate for students is shocking ”.
The book club, formed in 2017, has looked at more difficult books in the past, says Tanya Lee. A psychologist is even often present at the meetings. “She answers the students’ questions. She’s very honest, and the girls appreciate it, ”says Tanya Lee.
Unfair treatment?
The role of defense lawyer “never seems to be in doubt when dealing with a man,” observes lawyer Christine Mainville. Me Marie Henein has also often had to defend her image in front of the media. In 2013, former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant even compared the lawyer to Hannibal Lecter, a sordid character in Thomas Harris’ novels.
“When a woman is successful and competent, she comes under attack,” adds Mr.e Christine Mainville. Marie Henein “is at the top of her profession, in a profession dominated by men,” says Me Maya Sengupta-Murray, criminal lawyer at Weisberg Law. “Young women would benefit from reading her book,” she said.