Ontario Superior Court Affirms Exceptional Test to Hide Officer Names in Police Accountability Lawsuits

TORONTO — The Ontario Superior Court has rejected an exceptional request by the Peel Regional Police Service to keep officers’ identities secret in a police accountability lawsuit. The CCLA acted as an intervenor in this case, Ahmad et al. v. Peel Police Regional Police Services Board et al. The police killed Mr. Choudry, an elderly South Asian Muslim man with a history of mental health issues, when responding to a call from his family for assistance.

Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program, said:

“The identities of officers in police accountability lawsuits should not be hidden from the public. As the CCLA argued and the Court recognized in its decision, it is vital that the public know about allegations of police misconduct, be able to identify repeat bad actors, and see justice be done. In its decision, the Court powerfully noted, “in the context of the role of the police in society exceptions to the open court principle would be super-extraordinary.”

The CCLA is grateful to Iris Fischer, Laura Dougan, and Sara Bolourchian of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP for their excellent pro bono representation in this matter.

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À propos de l’association canadienne sur les libertés civiles
L’ACLC est un organisme indépendant à but non lucratif qui compte des partisans dans tout le pays. Fondée en 1964, c’est une association de défense des droits de la personne qui opère à l’échelle du Canada pour défendre les droits, la dignité, la sécurité et les libertés de toute la population.

Communications avec les médias :
media@ccla.org