MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release
February 13, 2007
(Toronto) - On Thursday February 15, 2007, the Hon. Irwin Cotler will deliver the lecture "Pursuit of Justice" at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law as part of the 2007 Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture. Irwin Cotler is a former Justice Minister of Canada, a Member of Parliament, a professor at McGill Law School, a human rights activist and founder of the Save Darfur Paliamentary Coalition. His lecture will address the appointment of judges, the impact of the Charter on Canada's transformation to a constitutional democracy, and the issue of wrongful convictions. Prof. Cotler will also discuss contemporary international justice issues of terrorism and human rights, the combating of racism, hate and mass atrocity and the M-E-4 Justice Forum.
A constitutional and comparative law scholar, Prof. Cotler has litigated every section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including landmark cases in the areas of free speech, freedom of religion, women's rights, minority rights, war crimes justice, prisoners' rights, and peace law. He is currently advocating a human rights case in Bangladesh with research assistance from U of T Faculty of Law students.
"We are deeply honoured to welcome the Hon. Irwin Cotler to the Faculty of Law," says Dean Mayo Moran. "Prof. Cotler is a leading figure in the struggle for justice, peace and human rights, values that are firmly entrenched in the law school's history, philosophy and academic program."
The Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture was established in memory of the late Morris A. Gross by the law firm, Minden, Gross, Grafstein & Greenstein and by members of his family, friends and professional associates. The purpose of the lectureship is to bring to the Faculty of Law a distinguished scholar or a member of the bar or bench to deliver a lecture on contemporary legal issues.
For a biography of the Hon. Irwin Cotler, please see: http://www.irwincotler.parl.gc.ca/bio.asp?lang=e
This lecture will be broadcast live over the web, please click on the following link shortly after 5:30 pm on Thursday February 15 to view the discussion: http://mediacast.ic.utoronto.ca/
Who: The Hon. Irwin Cotler
What: 2007 Morris A. Gross Memorial Lecture: "Pursuing Justice"
When: Thursday, February 15, 2007; 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm followed by a Reception
Where: Bennett Lecture Hall, Flavelle House, Faculty of Law, 78 Queen's Park
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Jane Kidner, Assistant Dean, External Relations, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
(416) 978-6702 or j.kidner@utoronto.ca
