Latest news with #MariaCarroccia
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
What to know about Justice Maria Carroccia, the judge who acquitted the five Team Canada players
Last week, in a 91-page judgement following an eight-week trial in London, Ont., Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found all five defendants — 2018 Team Canada world junior hockey players — not guilty of sexual assault involving one complainant, identified only as E.M. due to a publication ban. Carroccia acquitted Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote after saying the complainant's testimony was not found to be 'either credible or reliable.' Here's what to know about the woman who made that ruling. She used to work as a waitress In the questionnaire Carroccia completed to apply for a federal judicial appointment, she listed under 'non-legal work history' two occupations. From 1980 to 1987, she worked as a part-time pharmacy assistant at Patterson Big V Drug Store, part of a chain that was later taken over by Shoppers Drug Mart. And in roughly the same period (1980 to 1986) she was a part-time waitress at Caboto Club of Windsor. Described on its website as 'Southwestern Ontario's largest and oldest Italian club,' the Giovanni Caboto Club turns 100 this year. Her parents came to Canada from Italy Carroccia is the oldest child of immigrants from Italy. Her parents did not finish grade school, and when they came to Canada her father became a construction worker, and her mother a homemaker. Their first language was not English and, growing up, Carroccia was often their intermediary when dealing with government agencies and English-speaking people. 'While they encouraged me to further my education, financially, they were not always able to assist, so I worked part time jobs as a student to pay for my education,' she said in her judicial application. 'They taught me the value of hard work. We have a close-knit and loving large family. She also noted that, as the mother of two children herself, 'I have developed an ability to balance my professional life with my personal life.' She worked as a defence lawyer before she was a judge Carroccia's legal work history includes 25 years self-employed as a barrister and solicitor practicing in Windsor, with her practice restricted to criminal defence. Prior to that, she worked for five years for Gordner, Klein, Barristers and Solicitors, practicing criminal law; and two years before that at Gignac, Sutts Barristers and Solicitors, in the same capacity. She has a degree in English language and literature Carroccia was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1989 after graduating from the University of Windsor's faculty of law two years earlier. In addition to her law degree, she also holds an English language and literature degree from Windsor, earned in 1984. She was appointed in June of 2020 as a judge to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario by then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti. This month, Lametti was named Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney, after helping with Carney's transition into office and as an informal advisor. She once described herself as a lawyer who 'works in the trenches' In her judicial questionnaire, Carroccia noted that most of her time as a lawyer was spent as a sole practitioner. 'I do not work in a large firm,' she said. 'I view myself as a trial lawyer who 'works in the trenches.' My contribution to the law is to represent my clients to the best of my ability, whether they are charged with minor offences or the most serious offences.' She thinks of herself as a plain speaker 'The audience for the decisions of the Superior Court of Justice is the average Canadian citizen,' she once said. 'It is my view that a judge's decision ought to make sense to an ordinary person, not just to lawyers, scholars and other judges. An individual should be able to understand the decision of a judge and the law upon which it is based even if he or she is not well-versed in the law.' Her ruling was criticized but also seen by many as fair and balanced While there was outrage from some quarters at the acquittal, there were also those who praised the verdict and the judge's careful work. Karen Bellehumeur, lawyer for E.M., said as part of her statement after the verdict: 'It's important to understand that this case, the criminal justice system worked the way it's designed to work, to aggressively protect the rights of the accused. It's based on a concept that 10 guilty persons should walk free before one innocent person is wrongly convicted.'
National Post
2 days ago
- National Post
What to know about Justice Maria Carroccia, the judge who acquitted the five Team Canada players
Last week, in a 91-page judgement following an eight-week trial in London, Ont., Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found all five defendants — 2018 Team Canada world junior hockey players — not guilty of sexual assault involving one complainant, identified only as E.M. due to a publication ban. Carroccia acquitted Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote after saying the complainant's testimony was not found to be 'either credible or reliable.' Here's what to know about the woman who made that ruling. She used to work as a waitress In the questionnaire Carroccia completed to apply for a federal judicial appointment, she listed under 'non-legal work history' two occupations. From 1980 to 1987, she worked as a part-time pharmacy assistant at Patterson Big V Drug Store, part of a chain that was later taken over by Shoppers Drug Mart. And in roughly the same period (1980 to 1986) she was a part-time waitress at Caboto Club of Windsor. Described on its website as 'Southwestern Ontario's largest and oldest Italian club,' the Giovanni Caboto Club turns 100 this year. Her parents came to Canada from Italy Carroccia is the oldest child of immigrants from Italy. Her parents did not finish grade school, and when they came to Canada her father became a construction worker, and her mother a homemaker. Their first language was not English and, growing up, Carroccia was often their intermediary when dealing with government agencies and English-speaking people. 'While they encouraged me to further my education, financially, they were not always able to assist, so I worked part time jobs as a student to pay for my education,' she said in her judicial application. 'They taught me the value of hard work. We have a close-knit and loving large family. She also noted that, as the mother of two children herself, 'I have developed an ability to balance my professional life with my personal life.' She worked as a defence lawyer before she was a judge Carroccia's legal work history includes 25 years self-employed as a barrister and solicitor practicing in Windsor, with her practice restricted to criminal defence. Prior to that, she worked for five years for Gordner, Klein, Barristers and Solicitors, practicing criminal law; and two years before that at Gignac, Sutts Barristers and Solicitors, in the same capacity. She has a degree in English language and literature Carroccia was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1989 after graduating from the University of Windsor's faculty of law two years earlier. In addition to her law degree, she also holds an English language and literature degree from Windsor, earned in 1984. She was appointed in June of 2020 as a judge to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario by then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti. This month, Lametti was named Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney, after helping with Carney's transition into office and as an informal advisor. She once described herself as a lawyer who 'works in the trenches' In her judicial questionnaire, Carroccia noted that most of her time as a lawyer was spent as a sole practitioner. 'I do not work in a large firm,' she said. 'I view myself as a trial lawyer who 'works in the trenches.' My contribution to the law is to represent my clients to the best of my ability, whether they are charged with minor offences or the most serious offences.' She thinks of herself as a plain speaker 'The audience for the decisions of the Superior Court of Justice is the average Canadian citizen,' she once said. 'It is my view that a judge's decision ought to make sense to an ordinary person, not just to lawyers, scholars and other judges. An individual should be able to understand the decision of a judge and the law upon which it is based even if he or she is not well-versed in the law.' Her ruling was criticized but also seen by many as fair and balanced While there was outrage from some quarters at the acquittal, there were also those who praised the verdict and the judge's careful work. Karen Bellehumeur, lawyer for E.M., said as part of her statement after the verdict: 'It's important to understand that this case, the criminal justice system worked the way it's designed to work, to aggressively protect the rights of the accused. It's based on a concept that 10 guilty persons should walk free before one innocent person is wrongly convicted.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Round the horn
A quick trip through my cerebral cortex as we cover a lot of ground: • Not surprisingly, there's been a rush to judgment from the court of public opinion following the not-guilty verdicts handed down today in the Canadian World Junior sexual assault trial. Reactions have ranged from, 'The justice system is completely broken,' to, 'These men were the true victims' — and everything in between. As many of you know, I spent more than two decades sitting inside courtrooms, covering trials like this, albeit most not nearly as high-profile. I feel I can speak from first-hand experience on many of the complex issues at play, but I hesitate to do so for one big reason: I wasn't in the courtroom for a single second of testimony or cross-examination, nor the lengthy and extremely detailed reasons for the decision handed down by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia. Advertisement Why this ad? We live in an era where everyone with a keypad seems to be an expert on everything. But firing off a hot take just to grab some eyeballs is a dangerous game — one I refuse to play. That said, there are a few things I feel comfortable stating in general terms: 1. Not guilty doesn't always mean innocent. The burden of proof in a criminal trial is incredibly high, and for good reason. Better that a guilty person walks free than an innocent person goes to jail, right? But don't confuse a legal standard with a civil, or even moral, one. There's a big difference, and I've read enough about this case to know these five players are not coming out of this with entirely clean hands. Nor should they. At the very least, their behaviour was vile. 2. Sexual assault cases are especially difficult to prove, particularly in the absence of eyewitnesses or damning evidence like DNA. The proverbial he-said/she-said can be a nightmare for prosecutors, especially if the complainant's story has even minor inconsistencies; the defence will inevitably try to exploit them. It really does feel like an uphill battle. I'm not sure how we change that, short of moving the goalposts on 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' And that, in my view, would be a very slippery slope. 3. Judges are bound by the law and precedent. They aren't trying to make the popular decision, nor are they chasing public favour. That's one of the best aspects of not electing judges in this country, where pandering would be a very real concern. I'm glad our system is set up that way. 4. I wouldn't be surprised if some or all of these five players get a second chance in the NHL, but I wouldn't count on that happening immediately. The league could very well impose additional suspensions, as they've done before with players and owners for 'conduct deemed detrimental.' They're not bound by the criminal justice system, nor should they be. That said, I'd be surprised if any NHL team wants to go near these players right now, even if they are ultimately cleared to return. Their actions were disgusting. 5. Believe victims. Watching a case like this unfold so publicly, it's easy to see why many survivors may feel discouraged from ever coming forward. That's deeply distressing. • Hulk Hogan, who passed away earlier today, will go down as the most famous professional wrestler of all time. He's a huge reason I started watching what was then the WWF back in the early 1980s, with larger-than-life characters settling scores inside the squared circle every Saturday morning on my TV. Hulk Hogan rips his shirt before Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York in October 2024.. (Alex Brandon / The Associated Press files) Say your prayers, take your vitamins, 24-inch pythons and, 'Whatcha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you' became part of the everyday vernacular. Terry Bollea, however, will also be remembered as a deeply flawed human being. In recent years, his legacy has taken a major hit after some of his racist behaviour came to light. His life story is, to put it mildly, complicated. His last televised appearance earlier this year with WWE ended with him being loudly booed. The fans weren't buying what he was selling — a clear sign of how far his stock had fallen. This is one of those instances where some will separate the 'art' from the 'artist,' just as we've seen with plenty of actors, athletes, and other public figures. • The Toronto Blue Jays continue to bring me great joy. It's not just the winning, it's the way they're playing the game. Scrappy. Relentless. Fun. They remind me of everything I love about baseball. I have no idea how this 2025 story will end, but I'm going to enjoy every chapter as it unfolds. • Contrast that with the mighty New York Yankees, who looked more like the Bad News Bears this week as they dropped two of three to the Jays. Given how often they boot the ball around, Yakety Sax might be an appropriate team song. • I'm halfway through Mobland and loving every minute. The 10-part series on Prime — about two Irish crime families at war — is tremendous. Great cast (Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are sensational), a terrific director (Guy Ritchie), and enough plot twists to keep you fully hooked. • I suspect Dylan Samberg and the Winnipeg Jets will reach a long-term contract extension any day now. The restricted free agent has an arbitration hearing set for next Wednesday, but I don't think it will be needed. My prediction? A five-year deal worth around US$6 million annually. The Jets might push for eight years, but Samberg may prefer to leave the door open for a bigger payday down the road, especially with the salary cap expected to rise. The 25-year-old certainly showed his value to the team this past season. Dylan Samberg (Tony Gutierrez / The Associated Press files) • Hug your furry family members extra tightly. Their time with us is far too short, something I was reminded of this week as three friends lost beloved dogs who'd been in their homes for years. I've had six in my lifetime — Lady, Rex, Autumn, Cassie, Bodie and Piper — and not a day goes by that I don't think about memories with the four who've crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Bodie and Piper will get some extra love today, as they so often do, for the joy they bring to my life. • I'll have some extra time with the pups next week, as I'm off on holidays. This newsletter will take a brief timeout and return on August 7.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
GUNTER: Cancel culture dealt a blow with Hockey Canada sex assault trial verdict
The courtroom is shown in this sketch from London, Ont., as Justice Maria Carroccia delivers her ruling in the sexual assault trial for five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team, on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Photo by Alexandra Newbould / The Canadian Press '#MeToo changed our culture, but it couldn't change our courts.' 'No justice for the victim.' 'Survivors of sexual assault need our understanding, not courts deaf to their complaints.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Those and many, many other headlines and ledes blared out Friday that, in one form or the other, the woman known only as 'E.M.,' who had alleged five Hockey Canada junior players had gang assaulted her in 2018, had been let down by the justice system or even wronged by it. But the decision brought down Thursday by Justice Maria Carroccia in a London, Ontario courtroom — all five defendants were 'not guilty' — makes me thankful the #MeToo movement didn't change our courts. For a time, at the movement's height in 2018, being accused of sexual misconduct by a MeToo follower was enough to end the career of any man accused of harassment or unwanted advances. No evidence was needed, no trials were held. To be sure, lots of pigs guilty of real crimes got outed — deservedly. Movie producer Harvey Weinstein was one. In 2021 and 2022, Weinstein was found guilty in both New York and Los Angeles of five counts of rape for forcing young starlets to have sex with him in return for roles in his movies. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Other abusers, who had gotten away with coerced or non-consensual sexual behaviour for years, saw their reigns of terror ended. Good. And I do think the movement has made men, especially those in positions of power, rethink their behaviour towards female underlings. Another good. But because social media and cancel culture were the juries that decided which men tarred with the MeToo brush were worthy of punishment (indeed the term 'cancel culture' evolved in lockstep with MeToo) a lot of men lost their careers as the result of a tweet (or two million tweets). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Actual courts have to concern themselves with little matters such as evidence, due process and reasonable doubt. But not online lynch mobs. While office romances were once common, most large companies now have policies preventing bosses (male or female) from 'fraternizing' with employees. Data company Astronomer has just such a policy that, if followed, would have saved CEO Andy Byron and HR executive Kristin Cabot the humiliation of having their extramarital affair exposed to the world on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert outside Boston last week. We've forgotten the concept of innocent until proven guilty, too. In the Hockey Canada trial, E.M. levelled serious allegations against five players who were playing professionally at the time. When police first investigated her claim, they found it insufficient to arrest the quintet. A second look that included the Ontario Crown attorney Office came to much the same conclusion. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But when media and politicians took an interest, charges were laid, the players were suspended from their teams and dragged through nearly three years of legal proceedings. Were the sex acts they committed with and to E.M. reprehensible? Without a doubt, even if they were consensual. But were they criminal? Not according to Justice Carroccia, who before being appointed was one of the most experienced criminal lawyers in Ontario and who, since joining the bench in 2020, has presided over at least two other complex sexual assault trials. She decided one for the Crown and one for the defendant. Yet thousands of advocates and activists are enraged by her ruling and have promised to fight for justice for E.M. They find E.M.'s telling of events authentic in part, I think, because activists over the last 20 years or more have convinced themselves women never lie about assault. At the very least, they are sure a woman's version is always the whole truth. Justice Carroccia didn't see it that way. After listening to more than seven weeks of testimony, the judge found E.M.'s version lacked credibility. But the response of women's groups and E.M.'s fans has been, essentially, 'We didn't get the outcome we wanted, so the system most be broken.' In this case it worked as it should, unlike the 'rough justice' demanded by the mob. Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Columnists Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Judge acquits all 5 former Hockey Canada players in sex assault trial: Read the full decision
One of the most watched criminal cases in recent memory has ended with acquittal for all five ex-NHL players , who were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room in 2018. The verdicts in the Hockey Canada trial, read in a nearly five-hour marathon on Thursday by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, came after months of testimony and years of public litigation over allegations that had captured the country's attention and sparked a reckoning about the handling of sexual misconduct in professional sports. Carroccia said she did not find the testimony of E.M., the complainant whose identity is shielded by a publication ban, 'to be either credible or reliable,' and the Crown 'cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me.' Read Carroccia's full decision below:
