Madam Justice Renu Mandhane is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
jurist and lawyer who was appointed a judge of the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Brampton) on May 22, 2020.
Early life and education
Mandhane was born and grew up in
Calgary,
Alberta
Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, Canada. Her parents, Jaman and Nilima Mandhane (an engineer and bookkeeper, respectively), immigrated to Canada from India in the early 1970s. She has one brother
Dr. Piush Mandhane who is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Alberta.
Mandhane earned a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction) from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, a J.D. from the
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
The University of Toronto Faculty of Law (U of T Law, UToronto Law) is the law school of the University of Toronto. The Faculty's admissions process is the most selective of law schools in Canada and is one of the most selective in North America. ...
, and a LL.M in international human rights law from
New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in N ...
in 2003. Mandhane has authored the following academic articles:
"Ending impunity: critical reflections on the prosecutions of heads of state (2011) 61 University of Toronto Law Journal 163
Paul Michell & Renu Mandhane, "New standards of independence and impartiality for the expert witness"(2005) 42(3) Alberta Law Review 636
"The use of human rights discourse to secure women’s interests: critical analysis of the implications"(2004) 10(2) Michigan Journal of Gender & Law 275
"Efficiency or autonomy? Economic and feminist legal theory in the context of sexual assault (2001) 59 University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review 173
"Duty to rescue through the lens of multiple-party sexual assault"(2000) 9 Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies 1
Early Legal Career
Mandhane's legal career has been diverse and distinguished. Mandhane was a member of the Law Society of Ontario from 2002 until her appointment to the bench in 2020.
Mandhane completed her articles at a leading full-service law firm in Toronto,
Torys LLP
Torys LLP is a Canadian international corporate law firm with offices in Toronto, Calgary, New York, Montreal and Halifax. The firm acts for a wide range of commercial clients and financial institutions in Canada, the United States, and glob ...
, and then practiced criminal law with Diane Oleskiw, now Justice Oleskiw of the Ontario Court of Justice. Mandhane was counsel to criminally-accused persons and prisoners before trial and appeal courts, and administrative tribunals. She represented women and children as complainants in sexual assault matters. Mandhane's notable cases include:
Dodd v. Canada (Correctional Services of Canada) 00785 OR (3d) 346 (C.A.); and
R. v. Truscott (2006) 83 O.R. (3d) 272 (C.A.).
University of Toronto, Faculty of Law
From 2009-2015, Mandhane was Director of the University of Toronto'
International Human Rights Program Mandhane accepted the Ludwig and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize and th
Lexpert Zenith Award for Pro Bono Serviceon behalf of the International Human Rights Program. Mandhane was counsel on interventions before the Supreme Court of Canada related to the domestic application of international law, including:
0153 SCR 69; and
*
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013 is a music venue in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The venue opened in 1998 and replaced the ''Noorderligt'', the ''Bat Cave'' and the ''MuziekKantenWinkel''. 013 is the largest popular music venue in the southern Netherlands.
There are two concer ...
2 SCR 678.
Mandhane worked closely with
PEN International
PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010) is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. The association has autonomous Internatio ...
to highlight threats to freedom of expression in Mexico and India. Mandhane is also noted for exposing Canada’s treatment of immigration detainees with mental health disabilities who are held indefinitely in provincial jails pending deportation. Throughout her tenure at the University of Toronto, Mandhane was involved with national law reform efforts to impose strict prohibitions and judicial oversight of solitary confinement in Canada's prisons and jails. In 2015, Mandhane appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Committee (Geneva) on Canada's periodic review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Ontario Human Rights Commission
In 2015, Mandhane was appointed Chief Commissioner for the Ontario Human Rights Commission,
and served in that role until she was appointed to the bench in 2020. During Mandhane's tenure, the Commission enacted policies on racial profiling, accessible education, and religious freedom. Mandhane conducted public inquires that showed the over-representation of Black people in violent police interactions, the over-representation of Black and Indigenous children in state care, and the barriers to accommodation of students with learning disabilities in public schools. As a result of her leadership, Ontario passed legislation to better protect human rights in policing and corrections, and to advance anti-racism initiatives within government. The Commission also obtained an order from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario prohibiting segregation of people with mental health disabilities within provincial corrections.
As Chief Commissioner, Mandhane is noted for her efforts to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Ontario, especially in towns and cities in Northern Ontario. She negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with th
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres In 2019, she was gifted an eagle feather by traditional knowledge-keeper Maurice Switzer of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. Reflecting on her work at the Commission
Grand Chief Alvin Fiddlerstated: "“While leading the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Renu was a strong and vocal advocate for the people of
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓈᐯ ᐊᔅᑭ ᐃᔥᑯᓂᑲᓇᓐ ᐅᑭᒫᐎᓐ (''Anishinaabe-aski Ishkoniganan Ogimaawin''), unpointed: ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᔅᑭ ᐃᔥᑯᓂᐊᓇᓐ ᐅᑭᒪᐎᓐ; NAN for short) is a political orga ...
and defender of the rights of many people across this province."
During her tenure, Mandhane became an influential voice on human rights issues in Ontario and nationally. She authored a number of opinion editorials in a variety of publications, including the following:
*
Canada must put human rights at the centre of its COVID-19 response” Toronto Star (2 April 2020)
“The public service should reflect the full diversity of our community” Globe and Mail (23 July 2019)
“Adam Capay case shows Ontario must eliminate the inhumane practice of segregation” Globe and Mail (26 February 2019)
” Toronto Star (2 September 2018)
Toronto Star (29 January 2018)
“Leadership needed to fight racism”Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal (25 July 2017)
“Ottawa’s solitary bill is a start. Now the provinces must do better”Globe and Mail (20 June 2017)
“Unfounded sexual assault cases: A human-rights issue”Globe and Mail (16 February 2017)
Mandhane received many accolades for her leadership as Chief Commissioner. Canadian Lawyer magazine reported that Mandhane, "reinvigorated the OHRC," and that she was "a vocal, courageous and ardent advocate on issues of racial profiling, carding, police oversight, Indigenous rights and the rights of people who are differently abled." Canadian Lawyer noted that Mandhane was in the media steadily, and that she largely what blew open the story of
Adam Capay, the young indigenous man who had been in indefinite solitary confinement with the lights on 24/7 for more than four years." The Correctional Investigator of Canada, Dr. Ivan Zinger, stated that, “Mandhane has brought public attention to correctional practices that are discriminatory or violate the human rights of prisoners, including federally sentenced women, Indigenous people, persons with mental health disabilities and immigration detainees," and that she was "a leading voice on national and provincial efforts to end the use of solitary confinement."
Mandhane was appointed Judge of the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice on May 22, 2020, by
Attorney General David Lametti
David T. Lametti (born August 10, 1962) is a Canadian politician who has been the minister of justice and attorney general of Canada since 2019. A member of the Liberal Party, Lametti sits as a member of Parliament (MP) and has represented L ...
.
= Community Engagement =
Mandhane is a Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto, and a member of the South Asian Bar Association.
Mandhane has delivered addresses to a wide variety of audiences including to the judiciary, legal profession, community organizations, governments, Indigenous peoples, and international organizations.
Prior to her appointment, Mandhane was involved a number of community organizations including th
Centre for Free Expressionat Ryerson University
Human Rights WatchJournalists for Human Rights th
Elizabeth Fry Society of TorontoNellie's shelter and th
Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence against Women and Children
= Awards and Recognitions =
Mandhane has received myriad of awards and recognitions, including:
(2020);
* Excellence Canada’s highest honour, the Special Recognition of Achievement (2019);
* Ed McIsaac Human Rights in Corrections Award (2018)
* Canada’s “Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers” by Canadian Lawyer Magazine (2017),
* Grant’s Desi Achiever Award, Desi Magazine (2016).
Mandhane has been profiled in the following publications:
* Ted Fraser,
" Toronto Star (May 22, 2020)
* Tim Wilbur and Mallory Hendry, “
he Top 25 Most Influential: Renu Mandhane” Canadian Lawyer (August 2017);
* Rhianna Schmunk,
” HuffPost Canada (28 October 2016);
* Andrew Stokes,
Meet Renu Mandhane, Ontario Chief Human Rights Commissioner” Queen’s University Alumni Review (23 March 2016);
* Lucianna Ciccocioppo,
Out Front: Alumna Renu Mandhane wants everyone to know there’s still a need for the Ontario Human Rights Commission” Nexus Magazine (Fall/Winter 2015);
* Jim Rankin,
” Toronto Star (1 November 2015);
* Kelly Korducki,
Agent of Change: In her role as head of the International Human Rights Program at UofT, Renu Mandhane is not afraid to ask tough questions” Precedent Magazine (May 2012)
=References=
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandhane, Renu
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Lawyers in Ontario
New York University School of Law alumni
Ontario civil servants