Sarah practices criminal law at the trial, appellate and administrative level across the province of Ontario. Prior to practicing criminal law, she completed a judicial clerkship at the Federal Court of Canada and articled at the Toronto office of a national law firm. Sarah has successfully defended individuals charged with all kinds of criminal offences including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, robbery, offences involving firearms and other weapons, impaired driving and other driving offences, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, unlawfully in a dwelling house, break and enter, proceeds of crime, fraud, theft, criminal negligence, sexual assault and partner assault.
Education
Juris Doctor, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria (2015)
Masters in International Public Policy, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University (2010)
Bachelor of Business Administration, Schulich School of Business, York University (2009)
Bar Admission
Ontario (2016)
Areas of Practice
Criminal Law
Notable Reported Decisions
2020 ONSC 7157 – search warrant leading to the seizure of a firearm and controlled substances quashed and all evidence excluded under sections 8 and 24(2) of the Charter
2019 ONSC 2020 – joint decision on two pre-trial motions. Exclusion of the client’s video statement under the common law confessions rule as well as sections 7, 8, 9, 10(a), 10(b) and 24(2) of the Charter; finding that certain police records related to the complainant should be disclosed under Stinchcombe as opposed to O’Connor
2018 ONCJ 815 – charges stayed for delay under s. 11(b) of the Charter
2018 ONCJ 114 – charges stayed for delay under s. 11(b) of the Charter
[2018] OJ No 3674 (QL) – charges stayed for delay under s. 11(b) of the Charter
2018 ONCJ 59 – absolute discharge granted to a dispensary employee charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. This was the first absolute discharge granted on such a case in the city of Ottawa
Legal Workshops & Presentations
Sarah Ahsan, “The New Provocation Provision of the Criminal Code of Canada is Unconstitutional”, Defence Counsel of Association of Ottawa 2020 Fall Conference 7 Lawyers Under 7 Years in Practice Panel Presentation of Paper (Recipient of the Best Paper by Justice Vincent Clifford), November 2020
Sarah Ahsan, Constantin Draghici-Vasilescu & Justice Julie Bourgeois, Canada Border Services Agency Mock Trial Exercise, Cross-Examination of Forensic Document Examiner Trainees (Sarah Ahsan Acting as Defence Counsel), November 2019
Sarah Ahsan & Mark Ertel, “The 10 Commandments of Cross-Examination: 2019 Edition”, Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa/Criminal Lawyers Association Trial Book Thursday Series Presentation, August 2019
Professional Associations & Memberships
Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa
Law Society of Ontario
Awards
7 Under 7 Panel Best Paper (2020)
Exchequer Cup Moot Best Appellant Factum (2017)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP Mooting Fellowship (2014-2015)
Wilson Moot Overall First Place Team (2014)
Balsillie Student Fellowship (2009-2010)
York University Entrance Scholarship (2005-2006)