Scott Pearl represents clients charged with criminal and provincial offences, including Highway Traffic Act offences, at all courthouses throughout and surrounding the Greater Toronto Area.
Scott has worked as a defence lawyer for two of the country’s largest and busiest criminal firms, representing clients charged with serious crimes and facing challenging personal circumstances.
Scott has appeared at all levels of criminal court in Ontario, securing acquittals and favourable resolutions for his clients. He accepts legal aid and, in certain cases, has successfully fought for the Crown to fund his clients’ cases when they have been denied legal aid coverage but cannot afford a lawyer.
Experienced Criminal Defence Lawyer
Scott has appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He has successfully represented clients charged with criminal offences including sexual and domestic assault, possession and trafficking of drugs, robbery, breaking and entering, mischief, fraud, and breaching bail conditions and probation orders. Scott is not afraid to go to trial and fight your case to the very end. He has also obtained very favourable resolutions for his clients prior to trial, including withdrawals, peace bonds, and discharges.
Scott articled with the largest criminal defence firm in Canada, Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross, Gorham & Angelini (formerly Pinkofsky’s), under the tutelage of the country’s fiercest courtroom advocates. He joined that firm as a lawyer in 2013, and later joined Edward H. Royle & Associates, to get as much trial experience as possible and represent clients facing challenging substance abuse, mental health issues and poverty. In March of 2017, Scott joined the Criminal Law Team to continue to fight for his clients’ rights.
Background
Scott Pearl received his Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) from McGill University in 2009 and his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Western Ontario in 2012. Scott developed his passion for criminal defence while working for Community Legal Services, Western’s legal aid clinic. As a law student, Scott defended members of the London community charged with summary criminal offences who did not qualify for legal aid and could not afford a lawyer. Scott fought hard for every client, with notable successes including securing an acquittal at trial for a client charged with possessing a controlled substance, obtaining a discharge for a client charged with domestic assault when the Crown wanted a conviction and permanent criminal record, and drafting an appeal factum that resulted in the overturning of a conviction for possession of marijuana on grounds that the client’s Charter right to speak to a lawyer was violated.
Community involvement
Scott has volunteered with the Ontario Justice Education Network, assisting with and judging elementary school mock trials, and as a panelist discussing the criminal justice system with refugees. As well, Scott is a weekly volunteer with Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services, delivering meals on wheels to residents living in the Eastern part of Toronto.
Notable Cases
R. v. K.P. (2013) – Client acquitted of breaching his bail conditions on a directed verdict, after arguing Crown evidence of the offence was inadmissible at trial.
R. v. G.P. (2015) – Successfully argued at the Court of Appeal for Ontario that a client’s sentence for robbery should be reduced from 1 year to 6 months less a day, so that she could appeal her deportation order.
R. v. T.M. (2016) – Serious drug charges were stayed against my client at the Superior Court of Justice unless and until the Crown funded his defence. The judge commented that Legal Aid’s maximums are not realistic as they are far below poverty-level income in Ontario.
R. v. A.D. (2016) – Client who was facing significant jail time discharged of break and enter, theft, possession of stolen property and disguise with intent at his preliminary inquiry, avoiding a lengthy jury trial.
R. v. A.D. (2016) – Client acquitted of mischief after raising an alibi defence at trial.
R. v. T.M. (2017) – Obtained a suspended sentence at the Superior Court of Justice for a client found in possession of an ounce of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, despite the Crown asking for a 20-month jail sentence.