Maija Martin

Ms. Martin is an active contributor to the criminal law community in Ontario and Nunavut. She is a mentor to new lawyers through the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Women in Canadian Criminal Defence, and the Osgoode Hall Law Journal Alumni Association. She is a Vice President of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and is a member of the Criminal Law Working Group at the Toronto Superior Court. She is the former Litigation Director for Women in Canadian Criminal Defence and is the incoming Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Criminal Section.

Through her trial and appellate work, Ms. Martin has made significant contributions to criminal and constitutional law in both Ontario and Nunavut. She has challenged the constitutionality of several sentencing provisions (R v Smith, Ontario and R v Itturiligaq, Nunavut) and asked appellate courts to reconsider prior decisions (R v Hudson, Ontario). Of the seven appeals she has been involved in at the Supreme Court of Canada, five have been on behalf of public interest interveners (the Criminal Lawyers' Association, the End Immigration Detention Network, Women in Canadian Criminal Defence, and the Barbra Schlifer Clinic). She has represented clients in over 60 appeal matters. 

She has represented members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, advocating for the fair treatment of transgender accused to ensure that their gender identity is respected.