Harvey Brownstone (born July 24, 1956) is a High Court judge of Ontario and the first open judge in Canada. He is also the author of bestsellers and television talk show hosts about matters involving family law.
Video Harvey Brownstone
Early life and education
Brownstone was born in a Jewish family on July 24, 1956 in Paris, France, and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. He studied at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School and Scott Park Secondary School and received an LL.B. degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario in 1980 and called to the Bar of Ontario in 1983 after speaking with criminal lawyers Leo Adler and William A. Gorewich.
Maps Harvey Brownstone
Careers
Brownstone worked as an attorney for Legal Aid in Toronto's criminal court from 1983 to 1985, and then practiced criminal law with leading criminal attorney William A. Gorewich (now a judge at the Ontario Court) and Stephen Price.
In 1987 he joined the Research Facility of the Ontario Legal Aid Plan, where he became Head of Family Law Section. In 1989 he joined the Ministry of Justice, Support and Detention of the Detention Branch, as an advisor. The Support and Detention Countermeasures program is responsible for enforcing child support and spouse and prisoner support orders. In 1991 he was appointed as Legal Director of the Family Support Program (which was the new name of the Counter Support and Detention Program) and in 1992 he was appointed Director of the entire Program while continuing to serve as Legal Director. He was instrumental in the creation and implementation of two important support enforcement tools: support reduction orders (commonly referred to as "automatic payroll deductions") and the suspension of default driver licensing payers support, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to introduce this highly effective support enforcement mechanism. This program is now called the Family Responsibility Office, and is operated by the Ministry of Communities and Social Services.
Brownstone served on the Toronto Mayor's Committee on Community and Race Relations 1990-1993, and led the first Subcommittee on Gay Issues. This appointment is featured as a cover story in the Xtra Magazine issue of October 11, 1991.
Brownstone was appointed judge at the Ontario Court in 1995, making him the first open judge in Canada. Brownstone has led in criminal court and family courts. He served as a Local Administrative Judge of the Toronto Metro West Family Court from 1999 to 2001 and later served as a Local Administrative Judge of the Toronto North Family Court from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure as a Local Administrative Judge he coordinated the merger of the Toronto Metro West 80 The East Mall) and Metro East (1911 Eglinton Avenue East) Family Courts with Metro North Family Court at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, making Metro North Court the largest and busiest Provincial Family Court in Ontario. In 2006, Justice Brownstone was instrumental in persuading the Court Services Division of the Attorney General's Department to hire a full-time staff member at the recently merged Family Court. Since December 2013, Justice Brownstone has taken the lead in a criminal court in Toronto.
Justice Brownstone was on the Board of Directors of the Family Law Association of Ontario from 1995-1999, and to the Board of Directors of the Ontario Conference of Judges 1999-2002. He was a member of the Ontario Family Rules Committee from 1991 to 1994 and again from 1999 to 2011.
Having been born in France and raised by a French-speaking mother and an English-speaking father, Justice Brownstone is fluent bilingual and is the only Provincial Judge in the Toronto Territory who heard of Family Court cases in English and French.
In 1997, Judge Brownstone gave an innovative speech at the Law Faculty of the University of Toronto, condemning the fate of thousands of self-representing individuals who appeared in the Family Court, and urged the Law School and the legal community to provide services to these vulnerable clients. This speech inspired the creation of Pro Bono Students Canada Family Project, which now provides invaluable assistance to plaintiffs represented in Family Courts across Canada. Justice Brownstone is featured in a widely distributed promotional video to celebrate the important work done by Pro Bono Students Canada. Justice Brownstone is regularly called to speak at events hosted by Pro Bono Students Canada and is considered an important and allied spokesperson for the Pro Bono Student program at law schools across Canada. Through his support of the Pro Bono Students Canada Family Project, Justice Brownstone is an "ambassador" in the Flip Your Wig campaign, which raises public awareness of the need to improve access to justice. On May 13, 2016, Justice Brownstone received the Pro Bono Canada Student Award at the organization's 20th anniversary dinner party held at the Law Society of Convocation Hall, the Upper Canada's Convocation Hall.
In 2008, Justice Brownstone was awarded the "Best Behind-the-Scenes Champion" by readers of Xtra Magazine.
On June 14, 2008, at New York City Hall, Justice Brownstone was presented with a Proclamation signed by New York State Senator Thomas Duane in recognition of Brownstone's role in inaugurating hundreds of same-sex marriages to New Yorkers traveling to Toronto to get married. The event was held to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada.
In August 2010, Justice Brownstone received the prestigious "Colleague in the Spotlight" award from the Bar Association of Canadian Bar Judges. His comments on disability in the family justice system have prompted reform by the Attorney General, who has endorsed many of the changes suggested by Brownstone. Nevertheless, in 2015 Justice Brownstone was ignored for the position of Chief Justice of Ontario Court despite his reputation as an "approachable innovator".
Justice Brownstone is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Queen's University of Law Faculty.
Media
Although as a judge the rule hardly ever speaks openly about the work they do, or makes themselves available to the media, Justice Brownstone is an exception. His charisma and use of humor make him one of the most recognizable faces of the Canadian justice system. Brownstone's public personnel and frequent media appearances have led him to be described as "a pioneer who unilaterally alters the public image of the judiciary." She is one of the most sought-after speakers at law conferences because she is "innovative and always highly relevant". He has been described as "a Judge speaking passionately about divorce, family and his impact on society without a doubt. Educating the public about divorce, and other family affairs seems to be his mission." Her most recent interview on CBC "Out in the Open" became viral on the internet. He is highly respected in the LGBT community because he is the first open judge to be appointed in Canada, and is often called to speak at events within the community..
Tug of War
In addition to his role in court, Brownstone often commented on family law and divorce issues in Canadian national media. Brownstone has published the best-selling book, Tug of War , about family law and divorce. This book is the first of its kind, written by judges who sit on legal issues and addressed to the general public. The book is highly acclaimed and widely supported by leading members of Canada's law and justice community. Madame Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dube of the Supreme Court of Canada authorized the cover of the book, stating "This is a wise and heartfelt book with a gracious touch of wisdom, providing tremendous insight into the impact and consequences of family courts. "This book is forward-looking by Chief Justice Tedford G. Andrews (retired) from the Ontario Provincial Court (Family Division) [now the Ontario Court], and by Judge James D. Karswick of the Ontario Court, and by Judge Paula J. Hepner, Judge of the New York State Family Court Court.
The impact of "Tug of War" has expanded far beyond Canada's boundaries. Justice Brownstone's message - that parents of high conflict need not only legal advice, but counseling to overcome the emotional trauma of separation - has resonated with lawyers, lawyers and academics in other countries. Many law school academics in other countries, such as the UK, are now advocating multidisciplinary training in social work and mediation in addition to law degrees, and citing "Tug of War" to support this approach.
Royalty Brownstone Justice from this book goes directly to the Canadian Children's Desire Foundation.
Family Problems
In 2010, Brownstone hosted an online talk show titled Family Matters with Justice Harvey Brownstone which was the first talk show hosted by a Canadian judge who sits on Eight episodes produced to watch online and is available for free via iTunes and on the event website. The episodes were handled: child support; when a child needs a lawyer; collaborative law; elderly abuse; mediation; how to manage your lawyer; Child protection; and premarital. In 2011 Family Matters began broadcasting as a television show. The 15 episodes of the show debuted on CHCH TV on September 13, 2011 and also aired on a number of other independent Canadian TV stations in addition to being available online for free. The episodes addressed the following topics: Alienation of Parents; Wedding Secrets; Co-ordination of children; Intelligent Divorce; Divorce with Dignity; Fairway Divorce; A View From the Bench (featuring Retired Alberta Judge Michael Porter); Domestic Violence (featuring B.C. Judge Gary Cohen); Access (featuring B.C. Judge Jane Cartwright); Grandparents Right; Sexual Addiction; Men's Issues in Family Law; Pets and Divorce; Wedding again; and Online Security and Privacy. The Matters family is updated for the second season filmed in February 2013 in Toronto, Ontario and Victoria, British Columbia. Season 2 debuted on Canadian television on May 4, 2013 on CHEK TV and CHCH TV featuring 16 episodes that covered the following topics: gambling addiction (featuring Ontario Justice Victoria Starr when he was a lawyer before being appointed to Bench); infidelity; online dating; bullying; same-sex parenting; high conflict impact on children's learning in school; high conflict divorce; child abduction; introduction to the family court (featuring Ontario Justice Robert Spence); spousal support (featuring Ontario Justice Stanley Sherr); anger management; teenage parenting; probate and plantation; family financing; and broke up. Season 2 also features a Question and Answer segment where Vancouver lawyer Lorne MacLean, QC answers questions raised by viewers for AdviceScene.com. All Family Matters episodes continue to be available for free viewing on the event's website: www.familymatterstv.com. Justice Brownstone donated all his time for free, paid for his own travel and hotel accommodation, and was not rewarded for his participation in the program.
Edie and Thea: Role Involvement and Justice Brownstone very long in the same -the marriage changes
Brownstone was in charge of the wedding of Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, whose marriage sparked constitutional litigation in the United States Supreme Court on same-sex marriage (United States v. Windsor). He has spoken publicly and in writing about the role he played in leading this monumental marriage. Justice Brownstone is featured in the critically acclaimed documentary "Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement" (Bless Bless Productions, 2010), and is the subject of complete interviews on special features on DVD. As the first open judge in Canada, he has been recognized to play an instrumental role in enhancing Canada's profile in the evolution of marital equality law in the United States. On August 9, 2013 he received the "Best Hero Award" from the Social Justice for All website. In addition, Justice Brownstone is prominently featured in a globally-distributed global promoting promotional video, held in Toronto from 21 to 29 June 2014. Edith Windsor, at the age of 85, travels back to Toronto to celebrate World Pride, and is quoted by Justice Brownstone as "Rosa Garden from the gay rights movement". Justice Brownstone and Edith Windsor made a highly anticipated and historic appearance together in Canada's AM CTV and gave a joint presentation at the International Pride of the World Pride Conference on June 25, 2014.
Awards
2002: Medali Emas Jubilee Ratu Elizabeth II
2008: Best Behind the Scenes Champion, Xtra Magazine
June 14, 2008: Proclamation of the New York State Senate in recognition of the inauguration of hundreds of same-sex marriage for New Yorkers
2010: Partner in Spotlight Award, Bar Association of Canada Bar Judges
August 9, 2013: Week Hero Award from Social Justice for All
13 Mei 2016: Pro Bono Students Canada Supporter Award
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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