Ontario judge found guilty of judicial misconduct

The A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse in Brampton, Ont., is seen in this undated image.

A senior Ontario judge who once oversaw operations at courthouses in Brampton and Milton has been found guilty of judicial misconduct by a disciplinary body in connection with allegations related to sexual assault and assault.

In a decision published by the Ontario Judicial Council, a four-member review panel accepted most of the allegations levelled against Justice Paul Currie following a string of incidents in 2023, including when he allegedly engaged in non-consensual intercourse with a victim and then caused bodily harm after pushing them.

“Based on the evidence adduced at the hearing, the hearing panel was unanimous in concluding that five of the six allegations in the Notice of Hearing were established on a balance of probabilities, and that the test for judicial misconduct was met in relation to each of these allegations,” the council wrote in a brief summary published this week.

Currie, who was appointed as the Regional Senior Judge of the Central West Region of the Ontario Court of Justice in 2019, was previously criminally charged in connection with the alleged assault, which occurred in January of 2023, and the other alleged assault, which occurred five months later.

The criminal charges against him were withdrawn by the Crown on the grounds that there was “no reasonable prospect of conviction,” according to a written decision.

Currie has been suspended with pay since 2023.

His term as Regional Senior Judge of the Central West Region of the Ontario Court of Justice ended on Aug. 31, 2025.

After the charges were withdrawn, the judicial council began its investigation following a complaint submitted by then-Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve on April 12, 2023. The name of the victim was not released due to a publication ban and is referred to as “A.A” in the court documents.

In making its ruling, the four-member panel was presented with six allegations to adjudicate, which included:

1. That on or around January 11, 2023, Currie engaged in nonconsensual sexual intercourse with A.A. and physically assaulted A.A. causing bodily injury.
2. On or around April 5, 2023, Currie pushed A.A., causing bodily injury. A.A. called 911. Justice Currie left prior to the arrival of the police.
3. On April 6, 2023, Currie engaged in conduct that was – or could be perceived as – an attempt to influence A.A. to decline to give a statement to the police.
4. Having been informed that the Ontario Judicial Council was investigating a complaint about his conduct, Justice Currie engaged in conduct that was – or could be perceived as – an attempt to dissuade A.A. from cooperating with the Council’s investigation.
5. On April 6, 2023, a warrant for Currie’s arrest was issued. Justice Currie did not surrender into custody for 5 days following the issuance of the warrant.
6. Currie’s conduct towards A.A. in the January and April 2023 incidents was related to alcohol consumption and anger management issues. Justice Currie has consumed beer on multiple occasions while driving.

The panel said that it was not satisfied on a balance of probabilities regarding the third allegation.

It said that a disposition under 51.6(11) of the Courts of Justice Act is “necessary to restore confidence in the administration of justice.”

As such, Currie could be removed from office, which the panel recommended. He could also be reprimanded, ordered to issue an apology to the complainant, suspended with pay for any period or suspended without pay for a period of up to thirty days.

The panel is expected to hear arguments on his penalty next month.

Currie was called to the bar in 1984 and began his legal career as an assistant Crown attorney.

In 2004, Currie was appointed as judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

With files from Bryann Aguilar