by Selwyn Pieters, B.A. (Toronto), LL.B. (Osgoode)

Selwyn Pieters obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) from the University of Toronto. He was a member of the Academic Board and its Committee on Academic Policy and Program. In 1995 he was awarded the Gorden Cressy Award for Student Leadership. Selwyn was admitted to Osgoode Hall Law School in the Fall of 2000. Selwyn participated in the Winter 2003 Intensive Programme in Immigration and Refugee Law during which time he was involved in two internships, the first at the Legal Services Branch of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, in Toronto, and the second with the European Council on Refugee and Exiles in London, England.

Selwyn is a Barrister & Solicitor. He has a special interest in Charter litigation, International and domestic human rights law and policy, administrative law and issues surrounding anti-Black racism including racial profiling. He can be reached at selwyn.pieters@utoronto.ca.

Publications:

Selwyn published works include: The Quest for a harassment free workplace: re Immigration and Refugee Board; "Assessment of credibility in the context of a Refugee Protection Division Hearing is not an exact science �Eit the art that makes or breaks a Refugee claim" (2004), 31 Imm. L.R. (3d) 32; Case Comment: The Effect of M.C.I. v. Davis on Removal Orders for Permanent Residents of Canada", (2003), 29 Imm. L.R. (3d) 32; �Romans v. Canada: A Case Comment on the Jurisdiction of the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board to Consider Charter Challenges attacking the validity of a removal order", (2003), 25 Imm. L.R. (3d) 12; The U.K. Asylum Determination System: Is there a need for it In Canada�E (2003), 26 Imm. L.R. (3d) 197; �Litigation Race-Based Cases - A View from a Client�E Presented at the Legal Ethics and Professionalism Bridge, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto - January 08, 2003, online: University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Advocacy:

Selwyn has appeared before Courts and Tribunals at the Federal and Provincial levels and has been involved in several ground-breaking race-based cases including the challenge to the LSAT, and the racial profiling settlement against Canada Customs. Cases argued include:
Pieters v. University of Toronto ONSCDC File # 274/02, April 14, 2003, reported at: 2003 CarswellOnt 1331, (2003) 170 O.A.C. 180, (2003) 226 D.L.R. (4th) 152, (2003) O.J. No. 1316 (S.C.J.); Pieters v. Department of National Revenue (Ruling 1) T650/3801, October 3, 2001; Pieters v. Dept of National Revenue - Minutes of Settlement T650/3801, January 30, 2002; Pieters v. Toronto Board of Education(1998) OLRB Rep. Jan/Feb. 104 (QL); Pieters v. Ontario Human Rights Commission[2000] O.J. No. 1768 (QL) (Judicial Review, Natural Justice, Procedural Fairness; O.M.R. (Re)[2001] C.R.D.D. No. 135 (QL); Z.T.C. (Re) [2000] C.R.D.D. No. 227 (QL); D.E.P. (Re) [2000] C.R.D.D. No. 204 (QL);|

Media Relations:

Selwyn has been featured nationally in print, broadcast and T.V. media:
Customs to gather racial data Globe and Mail - December 16, 2002; Study to see if Customs uses racial profiling CTV NEWSNET - December 16, 2002; New rules for customs officers after human rights complaint - CBC (Feb 7, 2002); SETTLEMENT IN RACIAL PROFILING CASE LAUDED: Significant policy changes to Canada Customs to be implemented Canadian Race Relations Foundation; Student complaint leads to review of faculty's admissions policy: Human Rights Commission to investigate use of LSAT by James Hoffner, Ultra Vires, November 11, 1999; Judging the LSAT, judging the professionEditorial: Ultra Vires, November 11, 1999; Law student hopeful abandons court action: Admissions test complaint is before human rights commission by Adrian Humphreys, National Post, February 02, 2000; Law school bound By Richard McKergow, The Varsity, April 6, 2000; OHRC report questions validity of LSAT November 27, 2000; Let's Test the validity of LSAT November 27, 2000; How teacher of equality ended up in racial fight Dalhousie professor hired to tackle bias has felt ostracized since filing complaintBy Kirk Makin, Globe and Mail, April 02, 2001; Racism targets York law school: Black students look for justice after hate letters Toronto Star, February 22, 2001; Breaking the Silence: A scholar�s story of alleged racism at U of T The Varsity, September 08, 1997 |
Racism charges haunt U of T The Varsity, September 08, 1997; U of T's president denies racial bias in hiring practices Toronto Star, 5-Sep-97; Arrest reaction Re: Elan October 26, 2000; U of T student rep Elan Ohayon arrested October 23, 2000; Black traveller calls search racial profiling by John Saunders, The Globe and Mail, June 4, 2001

Employment:

Since April 2000 Selwyn has been employed as a Refugee Protection Officer at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Course Work in First Year
Fall 2000
Contracts Law completed|
Criminal Law Completed|
Tort Law | Completed
Legal Research and Writing Completed|

Winter 2000
Civil Procedure Completed|
Legal Research and Writing Completed|
African Canadians: Racism and the Legal system Completed|
Property Law Completed|
Constitutional Law Completed|

Winter 2002
Criminal Procedure Completed|
Administration of Criminal Justice Completed|
Administrative Law Completed
Labour Arbitration Completed|

Winter 2003
Intensive Program in Immigration and Refugee Law in progress|

Picture courtesy of Law Times
November 27, 2000