Alison Craig Profile Banner
Alison Craig Profile
Alison Craig

@lawandchocolate

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Criminal defence lawyer, sports fan, advocate against wrongful convictions, left wing pinko, OCR enthusiast, anti-pants, hopeless chocolate addict. She/Her.

Toronto
Joined April 2010
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
4 years
The life of a criminal defence lawyer:
I can't fucking stop watching this tik tokkkk 😂😂😭😭
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
5 years
As promised, my run this morning: (And @timandsid doubted me...) #WeTheNorth
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
If anybody who was/is arrested today at the Trinity Bellwoods encampment needs legal advice, give me a call. I'll help for free.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
21 days
And ask yourselves this: if they were willing to do it in such a high profile case - where they no doubt knew there was reliable evidence that would prove their evidence untrue - how often does it happen in courtrooms every day? We’ve been trying to tell you.
@NeedlesOnNews
Craig Needles
21 days
Toronto Police officers appear to have lied on the stand to try and get a man wrongly convicted of murder. Feels like we have to talk about it now.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Dude on CBC just said that in Canada police forces are civilized and don't use force at protests. No, sir. In Canada police forces don't use force at WHITE protests.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Police showed up and changed the locks at Adamson BBQ. Owner just showed up and happily went in the side door instead. Pro tip: if you change the locks, you gotta change all the locks. 🤦‍♀️
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Alison Craig
21 days
I had a case a few years ago in which undercover officers with their firearms drawn ran at my client in his car. The independent evidence established they did not identify themselves as police officers. They said they did…
@Eric_M_V
Eric Vallillee
21 days
If a guy dressed like this suddenly started yelling at you and banging on your car for no apparent reason while your family was with you one night, would you stop to talk to him or try to get away? Honestly.
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Alison Craig
10 months
The president of the Police Association of Ontario referring to a woman who stole food as a “violent offender”. And seems to suggest she should be held in custody. This tells you all you need to know about the problem we have in policing.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
1 year
Someone at the CN Tower deserves a promotion.
@sebasti13730725
happyleafsfan
1 year
The CN tower made the colours pride when bass comes out in relief for the jays #bluejays #nextlevel
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Alison Craig
2 years
PSA: if your lawyer has an update, they will let you know they have an update. You need not text them every day to ask. In fact, I highly recommend that you not do that.
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Alison Craig
1 year
He’s been on paid leave since 2015. Yes, since 2015. OPP officer guilty of sexual assault on unconscious woman and recording it to 'teach her a lesson' via @nationalpost
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Alison Craig
21 days
Justice Molloy’s apology to Mr. Zameer on behalf of the criminal justice system tells you all you need to know. I have certainly never seen that before - other than when wrongful convictions are overturned years after the fact.
@cmcdonaldglobal
Catherine McDonald
21 days
Judge tells Mr Zameer “you’re free to go. My deepest apologies for what you’ve been through.” A court observer makes an utterance behind me upon hearing Molloy’s remarks Margaret Northrup is hugging Lisa Forbes. Sobbing continues from Zameer and his family.
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Alison Craig
3 years
It’s cute how everyone thinks that the police tweeting that they’re not going to arbitrarily stop people means that they’re not going to arbitrarily stop people.
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Alison Craig
21 days
… and ultimately the interaction resulted in my client being charged with the attempted murder of several officers, and one of the officer firing nearly 30 shots at him. He was severely injured. He was acquitted because he was acting in self defence…
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
21 days
… but perhaps one of these days one of these cases will result in a complete rethink of how undercover officers operate. Obviously they are necessary. But the risk of tragedy is enormous.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
1 year
Count me amongst the many lawyers who will more than happily explain bail law to any members of the media who want to accurately report about it (rather than simply echo police union nonsense.)
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Alison Craig
21 days
Now that the prosecution of Mr. Zameer is over, there had better be a lot of questions asked about why it was prosecuted the way it was in the first place. And to be clear, I don’t mean the crowns in court. I am quite certain it was not their choice.
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Alison Craig
2 years
My client asking the judge out on a date was by far the best part of my week.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
If you know of anybody arrested at Lamport Stadium today who doesn't have or can't afford a lawyer, DM me. I will help.
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Alison Craig
1 year
John Tory: "we cannot have violent offenders released on bail before the paperwork is even dry, especially on firearms charges". ARGH. That. Does. Not. Happen. That's what drives me nuts. The media just airs that crap, without ever questioning it. And it's patently untrue.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
Morning news top headlines (in this order): 1. Province expanding indoor dining! 2. Outbreak declared at Oakville restaurant. Hundreds exposed to a variant of concern. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
My new ⁦ @EffinBirds ⁩ shirt is perfectly appropriate office attire.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Can confirm. In 17 years I have never once been allowed to run a contested hearing on the weekend. If they're arrested on Friday, the bail hearing is on Monday. Period.
@chorkins
Chris Horkins 🇺🇦
2 years
Every criminal lawyer I know (defence and crown) seems to think that the anti-vax convoy leaders receiving a full day bail hearing on a days' notice over a long weekend is incredibly special treatment.
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Alison Craig
3 months
I am legitimately horrified and shaken by what Doug Ford is doing to the judiciary. I want no part of a politicized legal system.
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Alison Craig
3 months
The police story is that there were no injuries or damage so it doesn't meet the definition of "collision" pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act. But, uh, here's the thing, TPS - there doesn't need to be a collision for someone to be charged with careless or dangerous driving.
@TheBikingLawyer
The Biking Lawyer (Dave Shellnutt)
3 months
TPS 🧵 It is your obligation to pull over and exchange information in the event of a collision. It’s also the right thing to do to ensure the person you hit receives cautionary medical attention as they may be in shock. You don't just drive away officer...1/3
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Alison Craig
10 months
I’m still so disgusted by that Sarnia Police tweet. Police officers purport to get into policing to help people. How the hell is bragging about arresting someone who can’t afford food helping anybody?
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Alison Craig
5 years
I would watch 24 hours straight of Marc Gasol drunk dancing on a bus. #WeTheNorth
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Alison Craig
11 months
Dear media, If you are going to inexplicably continue reporting on the Bernardo nothingburger, you have a responsibility to report on a) what medium security *actually* means and b) what the decision making process *actually* is. Thank you.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
2 years
Good morning everyone! I could not be more excited to announce Ontario's newest criminal defence and professional discipline law firm: Posner Craig Stein. Check us out at
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
@RadioVendetta Most Canadians are in mourning over - and angry about - the genocide that took place here and the thousands of dead indigenous children. If you think that means we should “move elsewhere” I don’t know what to tell you. Other than perhaps it’s you who doesn’t get it, not us.
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Alison Craig
18 days
You know what I do when I have limited information? I shut the hell up.
@robertbenzie
Robert Benzie
19 days
NEW: At Queen's Park, Premier Doug Ford tells reporters he was working with "limited information" when he tweeted in 2021 his criticism of Umar Zameer getting bail. #onpoli
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Alison Craig
2 years
Going full @EffinBirds today.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Should you call your lawyer on a Saturday? Because there still seems to be a lot of confusion out there, I have prepared a helpful chart.
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Alison Craig
3 years
For the last three years I've been working on a particular case that has kept me up worrying many, many nights. It had potential wrongful conviction (of very serious charges) written all over it. Client was just acquitted. I can't remember the last time I felt so relieved.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Client arrested - and held for bail - for breaching his curfew… BY TAKING THE GARBAGE OUT. Tell me again about the efforts being made to unclog the courts?
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Alison Craig
8 months
Please explain this to me. Wednesday night. Jays down 7-0 late. Game pretty much over. Schneider brings in Jordan Hicks. Top tier reliever. Thursday night. Jays down 4-2 late. Highly winnable game. Schneider brings in Trevor Richards. Tire fire. Make it make sense.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Every time I'm reviewing disclosure in a case involving a police K9 I think back fondly to that time as a baby lawyer that I didn't realize what PSD (police service dog) stood for so wrote to the crown requesting the investigative notes made by... a dog.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Defence lawyers get their referrals... differently... than most lawyers. Email from my assistant just now: "Mr. X called. Found your name written on a wall in the jail".
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Alison Craig
3 years
PSA: Lawyers are not 24/7 customer service centers.
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Alison Craig
2 years
The explanation for Ms. Lich being late for court this morning was traffic. The irony.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
👀
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Alison Craig
2 years
Aaaaaand the courts are on Rogers. No internet in the building. No Zoom court. Ooph.
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Alison Craig
4 years
I'm sitting in court and every time an inmate comes on video and says he's worried because people are getting sick in the jail, the clerk - who is clad in gloves and is bathing in hand sanitizer - rolls his eyes. I am about to lose it.
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Alison Craig
2 months
Me, the lawyer: 👍 Me, the baseball fan: 🙄
@FabianArdaya
Fabian Ardaya
2 months
Shohei Ohtani won’t be taking any questions today and will instead be making a statement, I’m told.
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Alison Craig
3 years
PSA: don't feel bad if you don't understand what the hell the new stay-at-home rules are. I can tell you that a listserv of approximately 1000 lawyers currently has no bleeping idea either.
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Alison Craig
3 months
I'm disappointed that I'm not hearing more lawyers speak up about this. The importance of an independent judiciary - judges who impartially assess each case (and sentence) on their own facts and circumstances - cannot be overstated.
@ColinDMello
Colin D'Mello | Global News
3 months
NEW: Premier Doug Ford say he's going to "triple down" on his comments about appointing "like minded" judges. "We're going to triple down on getting judges that believe in throwing someone in jail," The premier says.
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Alison Craig
2 years
The last two hours in court have been a bunch of, um, aging lawyers (myself included) and an aging judge trying to understand what a young witness is saying about how Snapchat works. It has been objectively hilarious.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Dear Sirs, Kindly do not tell me that you know "all the big name lawyers in Toronto", list off a bunch of men, and then tell me that I must be duty counsel. A) Duty counsel are not lesser lawyers than anybody else, and B) Women can be "big name lawyers" too. Thank you.
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Alison Craig
2 years
There is currently a crisis with the federal correctional and parole systems. I'm fed up. Nobody cares about "criminals" - I get it. But you should, because they're people. And everybody *does* care about themselves and their communities - so you should care about this.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
7 years
@MStrooo6 @JoeyBats19 Not only did I not criticize it - I hung a giant picture of it in my office.
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Alison Craig
3 years
When you log on to Zoom to assist your client with a weapons case and said client has logged himself on as "hitman"... 🤦‍♀️
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
1 year
Young woman, early 20s. Never been arrested before. Full time student with a part time job. Was the backseat passenger in a car. Guy in front passenger seat had a gun in his bag. It just took her 6 days to get bail. Don’t listen to the “arrest and release” nonsense.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Oh Lord. It’s going to be another day of misinformed hot takes. Newsflash #1 : life still means life. Newsflash #2 : a dangerous serial killer is never going to be granted parole. Ever.
@SCC_eng
Supreme Court of Canada
2 years
The SCC finds unconstitutional the section of the Criminal Code that permits consecutive parole ineligibility periods of 25 years in cases involving multiple first degree murders. Read our plain-language summary here: #criminallaw #Charter
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Alison Craig
4 years
I’m sitting at College Park listening to an officer get an arrest warrant issued for the arrest of a man charged with stealing.... a banana. C’mon, man. This ain’t the time.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Crown: will your client plead guilty? Me: no. Crown a week later: why are you setting a trial date? Won’t he plead guilty? Me: no. Crown yesterday: can’t we resolve this? Me: no. .... Today in court when I go to set a trial date, the crown withdraws the charges. 🤬
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Alison Craig
2 years
Oh, and let’s get this out of the way. A very large part of my practice is defending men charged with sexual assault. And I’m really, really good at it. As a result, I’m constantly told that I’m not a “real feminist”. Let’s be clear. One has nothing to do with the other.
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Alison Craig
1 year
Teach our kids their Charter rights.
@TheTorontoSun
Toronto Sun
1 year
EDITORIAL: Teach our kids to respect police
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Alison Craig
2 years
Me: "...in the case of Goldfinch, Your Honour, which was decided in 2019, just last year..." Judge: "Ms. Craig, I have some bad news for you. But I get it".
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
2 years
Having a conversation on speakerphone at the airport should be an indictable offence.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Reading an officer's notes from a client's arrest. Q: Do you want to call a lawyer? A: Yes. Alison Craig. Q: Do you know her phone number? A: Not off by heart. She's old and works in Toronto. My client and I need to have a little chat... #ImNotOld
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Alison Craig
2 years
I just read the saddest Presentence Report I have ever read. I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach. Please remember that there are stories and histories - often very tragic - behind the people that wind up in the criminal justice system. They're not just "criminals".
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Alison Craig
4 years
@jccordero28 @JoshMatlow Their job is to allow access to counsel "without delay". The law requires it.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
20 days
"Rather than condemning the travesty of justice to which he was subjected, Zameer’s parting words after his acquittal were to thank his adopted country. It is difficult to comprehend why we deserve it."
@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
20 days
Zameer trial achieved the correct result — the rest of it was a legal debacle via @torontostar
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Alison Craig
20 days
My honest reaction? They’ll probably all get promotions. I’d love to be proven wrong.
@wendygillis
Wendy Gillis
20 days
BREAKING: Toronto police have tapped the OPP to conduct an independent review "as a result of the adverse comments made by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy in the trial regarding the death of Detective Constable Jeffrey Northrup."
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Alison Craig
4 years
If you’re wondering whether or not to tell your lawyer that thing, the answer is TELL YOUR LAWYER THAT THING.
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Alison Craig
21 days
The crown’s OWN EXPERT contradicted the evidence of the police. The video contradicted the evidence of the police. All of the evidence - other than what was obvious collusion between police officers - showed this was a tragic accident and nothing more.
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Alison Craig
4 years
Today in court I was cross examining the most arrogant, aggressive, hostile police officer I have ever encountered. He refused to let me ask questions without talking over me. Every time he did it, I said this:
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Alison Craig
21 days
I want answers about why this was prosecuted as a murder. More importantly, Mr. Zameer is entitled to those answers.
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Alison Craig
1 year
Sometimes I wish people could just sit down and listen to the heartbreaking stories of so many of my clients' lives. Everyone is so quick to label people who become involved in the justice system. But they are very often the product of so much unimaginable trauma.
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Alison Craig
4 years
Went to grab lunch at Longos. A lady had a full cart of groceries and couldn’t pay for them. So I did. Times are tough for everyone. Do what you can, if you can.
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Alison Craig
2 years
Oh no. The CBC host is talking about Ms. Lich's "assurity" and I think my head might explode.
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Alison Craig
2 years
I must say, it's weird watching the country discover what us defence lawyers have spent our whole careers trying to tell you.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Turn on CNN. See Jake Tapper discussing the shitshow that is Covid in Toronto. Turn off CNN. Scream into the void.
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Alison Craig
3 years
PREACH, Marie. Of all the questions I get asked, that one probably makes me the angriest.
@TheCurrentCBC
The Current on CBC Radio
3 years
As a lawyer, Marie Henein is often asked, "How can you as a woman defend someone who's charged with sexual assault?" She replies: "The same way that a man defends someone who is charged with sexual assault." Catch the full interview with @mattgallowaycbc
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Alison Craig
10 months
It takes a lot for me to be truly appalled these days, but this dude managed to succeed.
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Alison Craig
3 years
Watching a Zoom plea. Crown reads in facts. Defence lawyer agrees facts are correct. Accused pipes up "actually, Your Honour, it was worse than that. I did more than that". Every defence lawyer within earshot: 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
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Alison Craig
3 years
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Alison Craig
2 years
Pro tip: if a lawyer is telling you they can help you dissolve the government, you should probably ask for a refund.
@btaplatt
Brian Platt
2 years
Quote in here from the convoy's Ontario organizer: "We have a group of constitutional lawyers that have been working with our team...We're getting the rest of our signatures and we're having them compel the government to dissolve government."
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Alison Craig
4 years
How it started: How it's going:
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Alison Craig
2 years
PSA: don't tell your lawyer "I didn't talk to the police, I swear" if you did, in fact, talk to the police. That's only gonna make your lawyer even more irritated three months later when your statement lands on their desk. Thank you.
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Alison Craig
5 years
Today my law partner, James Lockyer, was awarded the Order of Canada. It is so well deserved and I am thrilled to bits. Congrats, James.
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Alison Craig
6 years
“In Toronto I had to be THE GUY. In Cleveland they have guys”. - Josh Donaldson. Hold up. Do you mean you had to be THE GUY for the 2 weeks in the last 2 years you were actually healthy? Or do you mean when you were parked of an absolutely stacked lineup? #BlueJays
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Alison Craig
3 years
An officer testified yesterday that he couldn't remember whether or not he'd drawn his gun and pointed it at my client during his arrest. He said he does it so often that it wouldn't stick out in his memory. 24 hours later it's still bothering me.
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Alison Craig
2 years
I have a trial coming up in which three of the police officers involved have either criminal records or outstanding criminal charges. Three! Yeesh.
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Alison Craig
2 years
So this happened... Wordle 230 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Alison Craig
2 years
Why am I wearing a mask outside? Because I’m too bleeping lazy to take it off and on between stops, if you must know. My tremendous laziness has no bearing on your maskless life, however.
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Alison Craig
4 years
I woke up grumpy. So I went for a run. ⬇️
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Alison Craig
10 months
Quite the non-apology apology. Please, Sarnia Police, explain WHY the tweet was a problem. Show us that you get it.
@SarniaPolice
Sarnia Police
10 months
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Alison Craig
4 years
I’d be happy to work from home, but I don’t have a fax machine. Which is still required in the 1994 world our justice system lives in.
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Alison Craig
10 months
I was just speaking with a client at the Toronto East Detention Centre. Apparently the air conditioning (on his unit, at least) has been busted all year. If that wasn't bad enough, there are three people to a small cell meant for two people. On top of that... /1
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Alison Craig
2 years
If you've never been a woman practicing law, you should probably keep your chauvinistic mouth shut about whether women's law groups are necessary or not. Carry on.
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Alison Craig
10 months
@PresidentPAO Was calling for bail reform in the context of someone charged with shoplifting a typo too? I gather you think she should remain in custody? Otherwise there would be no need to refer to bail reform.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
2 years
My assistant just sent me this. She's not wrong. 😂
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
3 years
This was by far the best idea I’ve ever had.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
6 years
A “no-show”?!? He wasn’t a “no-show”, but this headline is a shit-show. You have a responsibility to report accurately, and that includes headlines because that’s all most people read. He was not required today, nor was he expected. Do better, @CBCToronto .
@CBCToronto
CBC Toronto
6 years
Ex-Blue Jays closer Osuna a no-show for court Wednesday
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Alison Craig
3 years
At 3:45 pm the presiding Justice in bail court announces that she's hot and tired so wants to just adjourn everything until Monday. I hear it's hot and tiring to spend a whole weekend in jail, too.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
1 year
My blood pressure just skyrocketed immensely. I encourage anyone in favour of the death penalty to visit the Innocence Canada and Innocence Project websites. If you support the death penalty, you're saying you're OK with all of those innocent people being dead. Period.
@TorontoStar
Toronto Star
1 year
Majority of Canadians are in favour of bringing back the death penalty, new poll suggests
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
2 years
I get a baseball at every stadium I see the Jays play in. Getting there…
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Alison Craig
1 year
And my mentions are proof of why that is so irresponsible. People, justifiably so, believe it. If we're going to have a discussion about bail or criminal justice reform, I'm all for it. But it has to be an informed one.
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@lawandchocolate
Alison Craig
2 years
I hope like hell it never comes to this, but if American women ever need to travel to Canada for an abortion, they'll always have a safe place to stay at my house. My door will always be open.
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