Judy Gayton, self-represented litigant

Julie talks to self-represented litigant Judy Gayton about her years of struggling through the justice system with a cognitive disability. Judy’s story is representative of the many people contacting the NSRLP who face the double whammy of navigating the legal system by themselves, on top of a disability. In other news: another great piece from Gillian Hadfield, and career changes from two of Ontario’s top justice leaders.

An Appeal:

If you are a lawyer, especially if you have experience working with brain injured clients, and would be willing to consider assisting Judy pro bono on either an application to appeal her trial outcome, a human rights complaint, or an appeal of her legal aid refusal, we would like to hear from you, and can connect you to Judy. You can email us at representingyourself@gmail.com

Related to Judy’s Story:

“Brain-injured woman denied legal aid calls her ordeal ‘frighteningly unfair'” (CBC)

Julie speaks with CBC Radio about Judy’s case

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

“In Other News” Links:

Gillian Hadfield: “We the people: Why legal systems should be built from the bottom up” (Place)

Jumping Off the Ivory Tower on iTunes – please consider giving us a rating and a review!

Robert Lapper to step down as Law Society CEO

Osgoode Dean Lorne Sossin to step down spring 2018

2 thoughts on “Catch 22: No Capacity, No Lawyer

  1. Barb Kueber says:

    Terrific talk! Thanks Judy! NSRLP of course!
    We’re all rooting for you Judy!
    Come on CBC and you other guys, how about covering some of these stories a bit sooner, while there’s time to intervene?

  2. Elizabeth Roberts says:

    A lot of people care…and we will keep bang the kitchen pots endlessly until someone finally not only listens…but when the Federal and Provincial Governments and Courts actually implement real value added change. The very change that their very own studies say MUST be implemented (i.e. The 2006 Ontario Court Report on Accessibility and Access to Justice and i.e. Eldridge v. BC)

    Can you believe a report from 2006 led by then Chief Justice Roy McMurtry, in 2021 continues NOT to have been instilled? 15 years and little has changed. Perhaps since Amnesty International who stepped forward recently in the University of Toronto alleged judicial influence case hit the headlines, could be approached?

    XO Elizabeth

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