Education
- J.D., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2009
- B.A., University of British Columbia, 2003
Year Of Call
- Ontario, 2010
- Northwest Territories, 2016
- British Columbia, 2018
Interview on CBC As It Happens about BC Court of Appeal decision on private medical records, April 2023 (at 47:30)
Kate is an experienced litigator with a diverse career that includes advocacy roles in private practice, legal aid organizations, civil liberties associations and Indigenous government. She has appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada as well as at all levels of court in both Ontario and the Northwest Territories.
Kate’s practice at Ratcliff is enhanced by her extensive background in criminal defence, through which she has developed exceptional litigation skills arguing complex strategic, evidentiary and constitutional issues.
- Brought a successful constitutional challenge to the mandatory minimum sentence for
the offence of reckless discharge of a firearm, against the backdrop of the suicide crisis
among Inuit, R. v. Cardinal, 2018 NWTSC 12; - Acted as counsel for interveners at the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Ahmad and
Williams, 2020 SCC 11, and R. v. Nahanee, 2022 SCC 37; - In partnership with the federal government, led the development of the Inuvialuit
Regional Corporation’s Indigenous Justice Strategy, identifying opportunities for
transformation and more meaningful outcomes in justice for the Inuit of the Western
Arctic; - Appointed by the Minister of Justice as a lawyer who may act as a special advocate in
closed proceedings under s. 87.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and
other closed hearings involving national security privilege.
In The Community
Year Of Call
- Ontario, 2010
- Northwest Territories, 2016
- British Columbia, 2018
Education
- J.D., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2009
- B.A., University of British Columbia, 2003
