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Appointee Biographies

Ontario Civilian Police Commission (Tribunals Ontario)

LAURA HODGSON

Laura Hodgson was Legal Counsel with the Federal Department of Justice, Criminal Law Policy Section and prior to this was Crown Counsel (criminal appeals) with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Ms. Hodgson clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal before her call to the bar. Ms. Hodgson has also taught Criminal Law and Procedure at the University of Ottawa, Common law section. Her community involvement includes Ottawa Centre Refugee Action, and Tungasuvvingat Inuit.

EMILY MORTON

Emily Morton graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in 2002 with a J.D. (Hon). She completed her articles of clerkship for the Justices of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2003. Ms. Morton was employed at Simpson Thacher and Bartlett LLP in New York City and at Ruby & Edwardh in Toronto as an associate lawyer for the first three years of her practice. Since 2006, she has run a solo practice focusing on criminal appeals. Ms. Morton is a member of the Pro Bono Inmate Appeal Program and has taught Evidence as adjunct faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School. She was legal editor of the Canadian Criminal Cases for several years.

STEPHANIE KEPMAN

Stephanie Kepman graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Civil (LL.L.) and Common Law (J.D.) programs. Stephanie is fully bilingual and supports access to justice in both official languages. She is a lawyer and member of the Law Society of Ontario. Prior to her work with Tribunals Ontario, she practiced criminal and family law.

STEPHANIE ZWICKER SLAVENS

Until her appointment to Associate Chair of the Animal Care Review Board and Fire Safety Commission in 2022, Stephanie Zwicker Slavens was a Vice Chair with the Social Benefits Tribunal of Ontario. Prior to Tribunals Ontario, Stephanie practiced as a lawyer for almost 20 years representing both seriously injured parties and institutional clients. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2000 with an LLB, and previously earned her Honours BES at York University in 1997. Over the past 20 years, Stephanie has appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, License Appeal Tribunal, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, Social Security Tribunal and the Ontario Small Claims Court.

LOUISE CHARETTE

Louise Charette is a graduate of the University of Ottawa French Common Law Program. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Charette was employed with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for a number of years. During her employment with this Ministry, she held different positions within the provincial correctional system working within the institutional setting and with offenders in the community. As a lawyer, she started her career with the Ministry of the Attorney General working primarily as a per diem Assistant Crown Attorney. She later acquired experience as duty counsel representing the accused. Ms. Charette was previously a part time member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board as well as the Social Benefits Tribunal.

KATHRYN GRIEVES

Kathryn Grieves is a lawyer and has been a full-time adjudicator with Tribunals Ontario since 2018. Prior to her appointment she worked as a litigator in private practice and as in-house legal counsel. Ms. Grieves holds a Bachelor of Management degree from Concordia University of Edmonton, and a Juris Doctor from Queen's University. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Bar Association.

SEAN WEIR

Sean Weir was CEO of Canada’s largest national law firm from 2000 to July 1, 2018. In his legal practice, Mr. Weir advised financial institutions, corporations and major pension funds. Active in his community, Mr. Weir served as an elected Councillor of the Town of Oakville, a director of the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and a Director and Chair of Oakville Hydro. Mr. Weir was named a “Diversity Champion” by Women of Influence Magazine, received the Lexpert Zenith Managing Partner Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and was listed in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.