Michelle Psutka, B.Mus., J.D.
Bio
Michelle practices in the areas of criminal law, regulatory defence and constitutional law. She has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Ontario, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, the British Columbia Supreme Court, and as an intervener before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Prior to joining Fenton Law Barristers, Michelle was an associate at a boutique criminal law firm in Toronto. She was also a judicial law clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and articled with a respected criminal law firm in Ottawa.
Michelle graduated from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law summa cum laude, among the top five students in her class. While in law school, Michelle received numerous prestigious awards including the Honorable Ray Lawson Scholarship for the highest standing in her first-year class and the Blake’s Scholar Award. She also competed in the Gale Cup, a national criminal appellate moot, and was awarded prizes for Best Factum and Best Oralist.
Michelle is currently a member of the Women in Criminal Law committee of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.
Education
University of Ottawa (2016)
Juris Doctor (summa cum laude)
Wilfrid Laurier University (2012)
Bachelor of Music (Honours with high distinction)
Royal Conservatory of Music (2009)
Associate to the Royal Conservatory of Music, Piano performance
Work History
Associate
Fenton Law Barristers
2020-present
Toronto, Ontario
Associate
Weisberg Law Professional Corporation
2018-2020
Toronto, Ontario
Judicial Law Clerk
Court of Appeal for Ontario
2017-2018
Toronto, Ontario
Articling Student
Abergel Goldstein and Partners LLP
2016-2017
Ottawa, Ontario
Memberships
-
Law Society of Ontario
- Criminal Lawyers’ Association
- The Advocates’ Society
- Women in Canadian Criminal Defence (WiCCD)
Publications
- “Your cross is not collateral: Knowing when the collateral fact rule does not apply” (2024), The Advocates’ Journal Vol. 24, No. 4
- “Strip-Searching of Women in Canada: Wrongs and Rights” (2016), Canadian Bar Review Vol. 94 No. 2, Co-author.
Cases
- R. v. Z.P., 2024 ONCA 219
- United States v. Jones, 2024 ONCA 61
- United States v. Alan, 2023 BCSC 2228
- R. v. Coristine, 2023 ONCA 517
- R. v. Zahor, 2022 ONCA 449
- R. v. Greenwood, 2022 NSCA 53
- R. v. Bagheri, 2022 ONCA 357
- United States of America v. Jones, 2022 ONSC 1711
- R. v. Charity, 2022 ONCA 226
- United States of America v. Jones, 2022 ONSC 11
- R. v. J.K., 2021 ONCA 256
- R. v. J.D., 2021 ONCA 376
- Ontario (Attorney General) v. G, 2020 SCC 38
- R. v. Liverance, 2020 ONSC 1753
- R. v. A.T., 2020 ONSC 3938
- R. v. S.H., 2020 ONCA 34
- R. v. Atkinson, 2019 ONSC 7132
- R. v. M.B., 2019 ONCJ 349
- R. v. Chis, 2019 ONCA 289
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