The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is alarmed by the reported use of serious force by Durham Regional Police Service officers against defence lawyer Sudine Riley at the Oshawa Courthouse on January 23, 2026. Ms. Riley was reportedly forcibly removed from a room in the courthouse, her headscarf taken off, physically injured, and detained in a cell.
Any incident involving the alleged use of force against counsel in a courthouse raises serious concerns about the rule of law and administration of justice. Lawyers must be able to represent their clients and attend court without fear of intimidation or violence.
The CCLA echoes the call of other legal and advocacy organizations for a swift and independent investigation into this incident, including expertise in anti-Black racism. These steps are necessary to ensure investigative impartiality and public confidence in the administration of justice.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
English (Canada) 
Français du Canada