Canadian Rights Groups Demand Probe into Police Force on Black Lawyer
Canadian Legal Groups Seek Independent Probe into Police Conduct Against Lawyer
Rights organizations in Canada have demanded an independent investigation into allegations of excessive force by police against a Black defense lawyer during court proceedings. The incident raises questions about lawyer safety, police accountability mechanisms, and potential biases in law enforcement under Canadian statutes. This case highlights tensions between police oversight agencies and calls for external review processes.
Details of the Incident and Charges
On January 23, 2026, Sudine Riley, a Black female lawyer, was working in an interview room at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Oshawa after completing a trial. Uniformed officers from the Durham Regional Police Service reportedly confronted her presence, leading to her arrest and charge under the Trespass to Property Act.[1][2][4]
Allegations include officers slamming her head on a desk, applying knees to her neck and back, ripping off her headscarf, and raising her skirt during handling. Riley reportedly sustained a head injury with bleeding and swollen eyes. She was detained and taken to courthouse holding cells.[1][3][5]
Police Response and Investigative Referrals
The Durham Regional Police Service notified the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) as required under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act, requesting LECA assume control of misconduct allegations.[3][4]
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) declined involvement, citing its limited mandate to cases involving death, serious injury, firearm discharge, or sexual assault.[1][3]
Excessive force claims were referred to the York Regional Police Service for criminal investigation, with involved officers reassigned from courthouse duties pending outcomes.[2][6]
Advocacy for Independent Oversight
Groups including the BC Civil Liberties Association, Canadian Bar Association, Criminal Lawyers’ Association, and others expressed concerns over police-led investigations potentially lacking impartiality.[1][3]
The Criminal Lawyers’ Association invoked section 198(3) of the Community Safety and Policing Act, urging appointment of an external investigator with human rights and anti-Black racism expertise to build public trust.[1]
Advocates emphasized risks to lawyers’ ability to represent clients without fear of intimidation, linking the case to broader issues like systemic racism in policing, as noted in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s 2024 report on discriminatory practices.[1]
Comparative Insights for U.S. Legal Professionals
While this unfolds in Ontario, it parallels U.S. concerns over police use of force and attorney safety in courthouses, often addressed under Fourth Amendment standards and civil rights statutes like 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Independent probes mirror mechanisms such as U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigations into law enforcement patterns.[1][2]
Canadian reliance on bodies like SIU and LECA offers a model for evaluating impartiality in internal affairs reviews versus external civilian oversight prevalent in some U.S. jurisdictions.
This development underscores ongoing global debates on ensuring equitable access to justice and robust accountability in legal settings.
Source: Canada rights groups demand investigation into use of police force against Black lawyer
