Co-Founder of Muslim Legal Support Centre Appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Brampton

The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

Faisal Mirza, Lawyer at Faisal Mirza Professional Corporation in Mississauga, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Brampton. Justice Mirza replaces Justice D.F. Baltman (Brampton), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective February 8, 2022.

Justice Faisal Mirza earned B.A. (Hons.) and M.A degrees from the University of Toronto and a LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School. He completed his articles of clerkship at Greenspan, Humphrey, Lavine before being called to the bar in 2002.

Justice Mirza was a trial and appeal defence lawyer for 20 years. He frequently argued criminal and constitutional law cases at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he co-taught advanced criminal law courses. He was also an Instructor in National Security and the Law at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Criminal Jury Charge Practice and several articles about criminal procedure and sentencing.

Justice Mirza has volunteered with leading organizations to promote equality in the law and legal profession. He is a past president of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association and was co-founder of the Muslim Legal Support Centre. He was a director of The Advocates' Society, which partnered with the Ontario Court of Appeal to establish the Advocacy Skills Training Series for members of diversity associations. He has often participated in education and mentorship programs with the Criminal Lawyers' Association and the South Asian Bar Association.

Justice Mirza was a co-founder of the Sentencing and Parole Project, which provided culturally competent reports and education about anti-Black racism for justice system participants. In 2020, he was appointed by the Prime Minister as a Member of the National Security Intelligence Review Agency, which reviewed the lawfulness of all Government of Canada national security and intelligence activities. He was the recipient of the Ontario Bar Association Criminal Justice Award and the South Asian Bar Association Award for Diversity. He has consistently been recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada in the areas of criminal defence and appeals.