Daniel Brown
@DanielBrownLaw
Followers
5,296
Following
594
Media
470
Statuses
4,530
Criminal Lawyer; Past President @ClaOntario ; @EmondPublishing author; op-eds @TorontoStar ; adjunct prof @QueensULaw . Saving the world, one case at a time.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Joined March 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Liz Cheney
• 188136 Tweets
Happy New Month
• 162677 Tweets
Choice of the Year
• 122851 Tweets
Ruben Amorim
• 103208 Tweets
#ゴジラマイナスワン
• 96660 Tweets
Botswana
• 55221 Tweets
taemin
• 43561 Tweets
Spiritual Book Gyan Ganga
• 43188 Tweets
My MAMA
• 42759 Tweets
#シェリン特番
• 37760 Tweets
#金曜ロードショー
• 35985 Tweets
キャラクリ
• 31990 Tweets
モンハン
• 26876 Tweets
雇用統計
• 24582 Tweets
#赤いきつね緑のたぬきで熱々ワッショイ
• 20684 Tweets
ヴェノム
• 20377 Tweets
モルガン
• 13416 Tweets
#ライオンの隠れ家
• 11973 Tweets
#ساعه_استجابه
• 10232 Tweets
フリーダム強奪事件
• 10076 Tweets
This case should remind everyone how important and fragile the presumption of innocence is. Our police chief and political leaders were quick to toss aside that protection to push their own political agendas. Zameer deserves an apology from
@fordnation
and
@TorontoPolice
.
#BREAKING
: Umar Zameer has been found not guilty of first degree murder in the death of Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup.
54
76
465
36
388
1K
Welcoming our newest associate and future managing partner.
16
5
352
Breaking: happy to announce Bill-5’s amendments to the Criminal Code reinstating conditional sentences and eliminating mandatory minimums has just become law and received Royal Assent.
15
70
311
Watching the
@SCC_eng
live feed on the constitutionality of eliminating jury peremptory challenges. A must see. Also Justice Abella's face mask is 💯💯💯.
10
69
304
Congratulations to
@Nader_Hasan_law
and
@alexheine93
for successfully defending the presumption of innocence in the Zameer case. This case was a tragedy, but anyone with knowledge of the evidence knows this wasn’t a murder.
5
41
285
In the summer of 1918, San Francisco moved court proceeding outdoors to prevent the spread of the Spanish Flu. This is an idea I can get behind for Summer 2020 (with a bit more social distancing). Who’s with me?
18
74
277
Welcome to 2020: Where the government will deliver marijuana to your home but it’s illegal to get a haircut.
11
55
264
An unbelievable tragedy for an amazing teacher. I’m happy to have played a small role in her exoneration. A must read from
@JacquesGallant
#JusticeForMsC
14
74
235
A modest proposal: Can judges please just give the bottom line in their court decisions up front rather than writing the judgment like a mystery novel? There is nothing more excruciating for an accused person (or their lawyer).
21
20
184
The greatest story you’ll read all weekend: Undercover cops posing as drug buyers attempt to buy drugs from under cover cops posing as drug dealers. Everyone tries to arrest everyone else and a fist fight breaks out in the street.
7
67
181
Congratulations to Marie Henein (
@HeneinHutchison
), this year’s recipient of
@ClaOntario
’s G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal for outstanding contributions to criminal justice.
0
20
148
We’re looking to hire an associate lawyer for our trial and appellate practice. Candidates should have an excellent academic background and strong writing skills. 0-3 years experience. Please send your application and a writing sample to brown
@danielbrownlaw
.ca before July 24.
2
93
138
I’m about to start a virtual hearing on a sex assault charge and noticed the new Zoom filters. Would anyone object if my client used this one?
6
1
140
20 years ago this month, I began my legal journey as a fresh faced 1L at
@queensulaw
. I still can’t believe I’ll be returning to Kingston next semester to teach advanced criminal law at Queens’ with
@LindsayBoard
.
6
1
139
The best part of being a criminal defence lawyer is the court sketch. This one is from the GOAT
@CityCourtsTO
. Got a great court sketch to show off? Post it here.
17
5
132
In my latest op-ed, I explain how the chronic underfunding of Ontario’s legal aid plan (
@LegalAidOntario
), aging court infrastructure, and staffing shortages are just some of the many reasons why our justice system is in crisis.
6
53
127
Attention 3L law grads in Ontario writing your bar exams this summer: some generous students in 2020 assembled a collection of indices and charts to help you study for the LSO bar admissions exams. Read the included disclaimer and share widely.
3
49
124
A judge gave a drug dealer a second chance. Sixteen years later, he swore him in as a lawyer.
2
19
119
So I was doing some research on “assault resist arrest” and stumbled across this hidden gem. Any case that includes “monkeys with typewriters” as a keyword is bound to entertain. I wasn’t disappointed.
8
9
118
My op-ed: Racism in criminal justice system: there is nothing left to say; there is everything left to do
0
47
111
We’re bringing in a secret weapon for our bail review today in the
@SCJOntario_en
with
@SujLee_
. Will work for liver treats and belly rubs.
5
4
115
Big
#100Interns
news! We just hit our goal of securing jobs for 100 Law students across Canada. Thanks to
@fraseradvocacy
for pushing us over the goal line and a huge thank you to all the great firms and lawyers who stepped up to support this.
@petersankoff
@ClaOntario
3
13
114
The
@SCC_eng
declares s. 33.1 of the Criminal Code unconstitutional with the caveat that intoxication short of automatism is not a defence to violent crimes of general intent, such as assault or sexual assault.
3
48
102
We support the right to peacefully protest and our firm is committed to providing free legal advice this weekend in Toronto for protesting anti-black oppression. Please call: (416) 297-7200.
@TrevinDavid
@Halfyard_Law
@McKeownLaw
@AndrewBigioni
@LindsayBoard
0
48
103
Starving legal aid is threatening Ontario’s justice system
6
47
91
It’s a big day at the office.
@Halfyard_Law
is appearing virtually at the
@SCC_eng
this morning and
@McKeownLaw
is virtual at the
@ONCA_en
in front of a fantastic panel. Send good vibes.
2
1
97
Civil liberties watchdogs say stay-at-home order opens door to ‘return to carding’. And in case you couldn’t tell, my furrowed brow and arms crossed means I’m very upset about it... (so is
@MJ_Bryant
).
3
22
95
We've got big news to share: Daniel Brown Law welcomes our newest partners.
10
6
93
I've said this before and I'll say it again....Judges, please give us your bottom line on the verdict at the start.
#DafonteMiller
A modest proposal: Can judges please just give the bottom line in their court decisions up front rather than writing the judgment like a mystery novel? There is nothing more excruciating for an accused person (or their lawyer).
21
20
184
15
9
92
Ontario’s criminal court system is in crisis. An immediate and significant increase in legal aid funding by the Provincial government is the only fair way to balance the scales of justice.
3
31
89
I’m excited to announce that the
@ClaOntario
is teaming up with
@petersankoff
to keep his
#100Interns
project running for another year. We are looking for some amazing employers willing to take on a part time law student this summer. Learn more here:
3
34
88
The 2021
@BestLawyers
list is out. Congrats to all of new criminal law additions including:
@_JananiS
,
@LisaHJorgensen
,
@jessycadefence
,
@emlaminator
,
@C_Mainville
,
@MDRobitaille
,
@mspratt
,
@megan__savard
,
@JordanaGoldlist
,
@GreenspanLLP
,
@HowardKrongold
&
@LawyerinToronto
.
6
10
85
Is there a more painful turn of phrase in criminal law than “despite the very able submissions of counsel”?
16
5
88
Here’s my take on the Zameer case. Despite reaching the correct result, this case is a black eye for the criminal justice system.
.
@DanielBrownLaw
on the Zameer trial and a need to ensure "precious court time is not wasted on hopeless prosecutions at the expense of cases already in danger of being tossed due to lengthy court delays." via
@TorontoStar
6
14
48
7
22
87
Dog day afternoon at the office staring Sully, Pepper, Mowgli and Darby.
8
4
82
I’m shocked to hear that
@LawSocietyLSO
is expecting soon-to-be-lawyers to write their bar admission exams next week. Safety first. Defer the exams but don’t delay their calls to the bar.
@LSOTreasurer
- please help!
#Covid_19
3
21
81
“The sentencing of Black offenders in Canada is on the verge of a dramatic change after Nova Scotia’s top court ruled that … trial judges need to consider the history of racism and marginalization that shaped them.”
2
34
80
I just found out I was nominated for a
@TorontoStar
Reader’s Choice award for Best Criminal Lawyer. My mom thinks I shouldn’t bother people with voting for me since there is no way I can possibly beat Marie Henein (
@HeneinHutchison
). Fair enough.
4
4
77
Dating app for lawyers called Appeal.
10
5
77
So this was
@TrevinDavid
doing his best to spice up our
@ClaOntario
presentation this evening by photobombing my zoom background. Just another day at the office.
5
1
75
Excited to introduce the firms who stepped forward to mentor the next generation of criminal appeal lawyers. Welcome
@SavardFoy
,
@AnilKapoor112
,
@HeneinHutchison
and
@AGP_Law
to
@QueensuLaw
's inaugural Appellate Externship Program - and thanks to
@coleenlisa
for supervising it.
0
11
74
Today is International
#HolocaustRemembranceDay
, a day to commemorate the lives lost during the
#Holocaust
including my great great Grandparents (Sarah and Isser Baranchik) murdered in May 1942. We must never forget.
1
7
75
Drug and gun charges tossed after judge found a
@torontopolice
officer hit an accused in head with a gun after he was arrested and face down on the ground. The trial judge also concluded the other arresting officers likely lied to cover it up.
12
48
70
Remembering the words of Jack Pinkofsky following Guy Paul Morin’s conviction for a murder he didn’t commit: “As a human being, I know this young man is innocent. I feel like I’m living in a Greek tragedy of epic proportions.”
"...We just want to apologize to you about what happened to you over the years. We have found the person responsible for Chrstine Jessop's murder"
Police apologize to Guy Paul Morin - after finally solving cold case of 9-year-old Christine Jessop.
3
26
39
0
13
70
Congrats to Justice David Watt, this year’s recipient of
@ClaOntario
’s G. Arthur Martin Award for lifetime achievement in criminal law.
1
10
69
“Canada has dramatically increased its use of pretrial detention, with a 400-per-cent rise in the number of prisoners in remand since the late 1970s. But we are almost certainly not safer. Instead, we are filling our detention centres with more and more non-violent offenders….”
Opinion: It sounds good, but tougher bail laws and more cops won’t improve public safety
79
30
96
7
46
69
At 33,
@McKeownLaw
is one of the defence bar’s most talented appellate lawyers. Congrats on your well deserved
@PrecedentMag
Precedent Setter Award.
7
4
68
Keep this article handy the next time you apply to have your client sit with you at counsel table instead of the prisoner’s dock.
“Jurors who saw the defendant in the dock - whether it was the standard or the high-security one - were 1.8 times more likely to find them guilty compared to the jurors who saw that same actor sitting at the bar table with their lawyer”
6
89
118
1
27
65
‘Attractiveness Bias’ in the Legal System: physical attractiveness significantly influenced judges on sentencing. The more unattractive the criminal, the higher the sentence. ..
4
35
64
If only JWR had spent more time on justice reform and less time surreptitiously recording her colleagues, we might have a solution to unconstitutional mandatory minimums and lengthy court delays. Our op-ed on JWR’s regrettable legacy as justice minister
6
33
64
It’s such a pleasure to listen to Justice Abella to hear important tips about how to be a successful lawyer in court and life.
@GaleCupMoot
2021 Awards Ceremony
1
4
66
A big day tomorrow for
@GaleCupMoot
competitors across Canada. One of the highlights of my year is watching these amazingly bright law students perform. Past winners include
@DavidLametti
and former
@SCC_eng
judge Thomas Cromwell who are both participating in this year’s event.
0
6
64
Congrats to my partner,
@McKeownLaw
for overturning this wrongful conviction and giving hope to others convicted of sexual assault for not disclosing their HIV status to their sexual partners when they never posed a risk to transmit the disease.
4
20
65
Honoured to be recognized by
@CanLawMag
as one of Toronto’s top criminal law boutiques alongside giants like
@addariolawgroup
,
@HeneinHutchison
,
@GreenspanLLP
,
@GHW_barristers
and others.
3
6
62
Spending a day at a local jail should be a mandatory training requirement for Canadian prosecutors.
Salt Lake County District Attorney requires his prosecutors to visit the jails where they send Utahns
4
20
62
Earlier this week,
@StatCan_eng
released their report on adult and youth correctional services in Canada in 2018/2019. Shockingly, Ontario leads all of Canada in the incarceration of presumed innocent people held in pre-trial custody. More than 72% of inmates are awaiting trial.
5
56
61
I’m happy to announce that the 2nd edition of our Prosecuting and Defending Sexual Offence Cases textbook from
@EmondPublishing
is now available for pre-order.
2
6
60
At the Ontario Court of Appeal this morning along side
@crimlacy
on behalf of
@ClaOntario
and
@Halfyard_Law
,
@adamweisberg
and Alan Gold for the Appellants to litigate whether Bill C-75 amendments eliminate preliminary inquiries already set for hearings.
4
12
59
In 1998, the
@SCC_eng
declared that "there is widespread bias against Indigenous persons within Canada and there is evidence that this widespread racism has translated into systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system". Since then things have only gotten worse. 🧵
5
37
57
Some fantastic news today from
@MinJusticeEn
. Reforms are coming to Pardons/Record Suspensions which will reduce wait periods for obtaining a pardon to three years for summary offences and five years for indictable offences.
3
27
59
Productivity is way down today at the office but it’s totally worth it. Featuring Millie, Petey, and Sully.
3
0
62
This is the answer to the question: “How do you defend those people”? DNA clears Detroit man of slaying after 26 years in prison
1
12
59
Celebrating the appointment of Justice Christine Mainville to the
@OntarioOn
along with Marie Henein and the rest of the
@HeneinHutchison
team. Congratulations!
0
6
59
#BREAKING
- The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned the murder conviction of Pardeep Chouhan because he was denied the proper jury selection procedures at his trial. This ruling paves the way for possibly hundreds of other jury trial to be overturned in the coming months.
7
39
59
My op-ed on modernizing the criminal justice system: Canada’s courts should keep the technological advances they’re making to cope with COVID-19 via
@torontostar
1
19
59
This is horrible. We expect more from the
@LawSocietyLSO
. Surely something can be done
@LSOTreasurer
.
I don’t expect the LSO to be a beacon of accommodation, but when I email that I’m at my dad’s hospital bedside as he loses his battle with cancer, I expect a little better than to be told “sorry for your father, but no more accommodation requests for this summer’s bar exams.”
48
49
474
3
8
57
Legal aid cuts mean Ontario has abandoned the right to a fair trial. An op-ed from Louis Strezos and me. Cc:
@fordnation
,
@douglasdowney
and
@LegalAidOntario
.
1
41
57
We’re thrilled to have played a part in our client’s exoneration and always knew she would eventually be cleared of this terrible allegation. cc:
@LindsayBoard
Toronto woman cleared in hit-and-run case won’t shy away from being a Good Samaritan again. ‘I don’t really see how I could have done it differently’
5
5
15
2
4
59
A jail sentence shouldn't be a death sentence.
5
18
56
While virtual court has been a blessing during the pandemic to keep the justice system running, nothing compares to in-person trials. I’m with
@McKeownLaw
at the
@SCJOntario_en
this week defending our client. Wish us luck.
6
1
54
Tell me you’re a criminal defence lawyer without telling me you’re a criminal defence lawyer.
@LawyerinToronto
4
2
54
Those of you who checked out early from todays
@SCC_eng
appeal missed the rulings from the bench. The legislation was found to be constitutional and purely procedural. Both appeals allowed. Chouhan's murder conviction restored and Esseghaier's appeal sent back to the ONCA. Wow!
7
30
56
Behind the scenes as
@Halfyard_Law
prepares for submissions on behalf of
@ClaOntario
along with
@KateRobertson_
at the
@SCC_eng
this morning in R v. Kirkpatrick. You can watch the hearing live at 10:30am here:
2
3
56
“Prosecutors routinely recommend jail time for offenders and then judges lock them up — but what do they really know about the places they’re sending people?”
@JacquesGallant
on whether jail visits should be mandatory for Ontario prosecutors and judges.
5
32
55
“The students still need me ... I’m going for 100. We’re going to make this happen.” Let’s help get
@petersankoff
’s
#100interns
project across the finish line.
0
20
53
We're looking for an associate with a passion for criminal defence work to join our growing team of trial and appeal lawyers. The ideal candidate is a 0-5 year call. Check out our job posting for all the details.
0
35
53
My op-ed on why
@MinJusticeEn
’s announced reforms to Canada’s sentencing laws are a welcome development in justice policy. An end to mandatory minimum sentences:
0
19
54
The
@SCJOntario_en
just completed their first remote bail hearing. Justice Copeland wrote: ..the greatly elevated risk posed to detained inmates from the coronavirus, as compared to being at home on house arrest is a factor that must be considered...
1
31
53
More than 20,000 unsuspecting Torontonians had their cell data intercepted by
@torontopolice
and RCMP using controversial “Stingray” surveillance technology. An important story from
@katecallen
5
41
52
Carl Sagan predicted 2018 in his 1995 book: The Demon-Haunted World.
0
37
52
A huge congratulations to our incoming associate,
@teodorapasca
, on your
@LawSocietyLSO
call to the bar today. See you in September!
0
2
52
My latest op-ed for the
@torontostar
on how
@MinJusticeEn
and the
@liberal_party
moved a giant step closer to rectifying the plague of wrongful convictions across Canada.
2
15
48
Attention law students and recent calls to the bar, I have a few extra copies of our 1st edition
@EmondPublishing
book on Prosecuting and Defending Sexual Offence Cases (2017) to give away for free. The 2nd edition comes out this month. DM me if you want one one of these.
1
9
49
So pleased to hear about
@TheLawGarage
’s judicial appointment to
@OntarioOn
in Newmarket. He will be a wonderful addition to OCJ bench.
2
6
51
An amazing and free criminal law resource is now available. Congrats to my fantastic associate,
@SujLee_
, and everyone else who contributed to this.
@littlelegal_
,
@EN_Neubauer_Law
,
@Jessycadefence
,
@c_emberley
.
0
17
44
Adamson Barbecue arrestee must take a COVID-19 test as a bail condition. Several lawyers (including me) say the requirement is outrageous and ‘likely unlawful’
11
16
46
Is Ontario’s bail system broken?
6
26
47
A historic final at the
@GaleCupMoot
with 3
@SCC_CSC
judges presiding. Good luck
@universitelaval
and
@robsonhall
.
0
6
46
Is our bail system broken? 82% of provincial inmates in Ontario are in custody awaiting trial. That number was under 20% across Canada in 1980.
7
22
46
An important op-ed from Frank Addario (
@addariolawgroup
) on the fallout from last week’s bombshell court of appeal ruling on peremptory challenges. Courtroom chaos is coming to Ontario – and the blame lies at the feet of its attorney-general
1
27
42
After 15 years as a criminal defence lawyer, I can confidently say that a direct correlation exists between large neck tattoos and a person’s propensity to commit crimes.
6
5
41
On behalf of
@ClaOntario
, I’d like to thank
@DavidLametti
for his important contributions to the Canadian criminal justice system during his time as AG including essential bail and sentencing reforms, as well as his tireless efforts to guard against wrongful convictions.
1
11
43
Thanks to
@mattgallowaycbc
and
@TheCurrentCBC
for inviting me on the show to discuss why serious criminal cases in Ontario are being tossed because of court delays.
4
16
41