Barbara Jackman
Encyclopedia
Barbara Jackman is a Canadian
lawyer specializing in immigration and refugee law, with particular emphasis on cases involving national security, domestic and international human rights issues, torture and other cruel or unusual punishment, allegations of membership in and/or support of terrorist organizations, the rights and protections afforded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
, and Canada’s responsibilities under international treaties. She has been described as being one of Canada's most effective advocates for immigration and refugee rights.
Jackman received her undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor
in 1972, her LL.B. from the University of Toronto
in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1978. She has been awarded honourary Doctor of Laws degrees by the Law Society of Upper Canada
in June 2007, and by the University of Windsor
in June 2010.
She is actively involved in law reform, and has provided evidence before Standing Committees on Citizenship and Immigration of the House of Commons of Canada as well as proceedings before the Senate of Canada regarding the Anti-terrorism Act, S.C. 2001, c.41
, the Canadian special advocate system, and the effects of Canadian law on people involved in national security status proceedings, including Hassan Almrei
, Adil Charkaoui
, Mahmoud Jaballah and Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub. She has also authored several publications which speak to issues of reform of the Canadian refugee determination system.
cases before the Supreme Court of Canada
, as well as other landmark cases concerning other aspects of immigration and refugee matters. In recent years, she has been heavily involved in proceedings relating to national security issues, including security certificates
and the Arar
and Iacobucci Commissions of Inquiry, regarding the actions of Canadian officials leading to the detention and torture of Maher Arar
, Ahmad El-Maati, Muayyed Nureddin
and Abdullah Almalki
in Syria and Egypt.
She has also argued several seminal motions related to stays of deportation at the Federal Court of Appeal, which are included in the Court's Common List of Authorities
Some of Jackman’s more recent high-profile cases include representing Mahmoud Jaballah and Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub, detained under Canada’s controversial security certificate
legislation, as well as representing former British MP George Galloway
after he was forbidden to enter Canada in March 2009.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer specializing in immigration and refugee law, with particular emphasis on cases involving national security, domestic and international human rights issues, torture and other cruel or unusual punishment, allegations of membership in and/or support of terrorist organizations, the rights and protections afforded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
, and Canada’s responsibilities under international treaties. She has been described as being one of Canada's most effective advocates for immigration and refugee rights.
Jackman received her undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
in 1972, her LL.B. from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1976, and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1978. She has been awarded honourary Doctor of Laws degrees by the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
in June 2007, and by the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
in June 2010.
She is actively involved in law reform, and has provided evidence before Standing Committees on Citizenship and Immigration of the House of Commons of Canada as well as proceedings before the Senate of Canada regarding the Anti-terrorism Act, S.C. 2001, c.41
Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act
The Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act was passed by the Liberal government of Canada in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. It received Royal Assent on December 18, 2001, as Bill C-36. The "omnibus" bill extends the powers of government and institutions within the Canadian...
, the Canadian special advocate system, and the effects of Canadian law on people involved in national security status proceedings, including Hassan Almrei
Hassan Almrei
A Syrian, Hassan Ahmed Almrei arrived in Canada in 1999 claiming refugee status. He has been since held, and accused of terrorist connections and ideology, for his "reputation... for obtaining false documents", and his relationship with Ibn al-Khattab following time shared together during the...
, Adil Charkaoui
Adil Charkaoui
Adil Charkaoui is a Morocco-born permanent resident of Canada who was arrested by the Canadian government under a security certificate in May 2003....
, Mahmoud Jaballah and Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub. She has also authored several publications which speak to issues of reform of the Canadian refugee determination system.
Significant cases
Jackman is presently in private practice, and has acted on behalf of parties or intervenors in a number of leading Charter of RightsCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
cases before the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
, as well as other landmark cases concerning other aspects of immigration and refugee matters. In recent years, she has been heavily involved in proceedings relating to national security issues, including security certificates
Security certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
and the Arar
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
and Iacobucci Commissions of Inquiry, regarding the actions of Canadian officials leading to the detention and torture of Maher Arar
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
, Ahmad El-Maati, Muayyed Nureddin
Muayyed Nureddin
An Iraqi-born Canadian geologist, Muayyed Nureddin was imprisoned in similar circumstances to Maher Arar in Syria. He claims to have been beaten and interrogated about his connection to a Toronto Islamic school; and has called for a public inquiry into the role of Canadian officials in his...
and Abdullah Almalki
Abdullah Almalki
Abdullah Almalki is a Syrian-Canadian engineer who was imprisoned and tortured for two years in a Syrian jail after Canadian officials falsely indicated to the Syrian authorities and other countries that he was a terrorist threat....
in Syria and Egypt.
She has also argued several seminal motions related to stays of deportation at the Federal Court of Appeal, which are included in the Court's Common List of Authorities
Some of Jackman’s more recent high-profile cases include representing Mahmoud Jaballah and Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub, detained under Canada’s controversial security certificate
Security certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
legislation, as well as representing former British MP George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
after he was forbidden to enter Canada in March 2009.