Commission Staff

David M. Paciocco
Commission Counsel

David M. Paciocco (LL. B.,Western 1979; B.C.L., Oxford, 1981; LL.D (hon. causa) Laurentian University, 2005) is a Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa where he teaches Evidence, Criminal Law and Trusts.

Professor Paciocco was a part-time assistant prosecutor in Ontario from 1986-1990, and a full-time prosecutor, on leave from the University of Ottawa, from 1991-1993. Since 1993 he has continued full-time at the University of Ottawa while acting as counsel to the criminal law defence firm of Edelson and Associates. He has acted in many high profile cases, specializing in complex motions and appeals.

Professor Paciocco has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

The author of several books and more than a hundred legal articles, he is the recipient of a number of teaching and writing awards, including a 1999 Donner Prize for writing in public policy, the Attorney-General of Ontario’s Mundell Medal 2002 for his contribution to law and letters, and he served as the Chief Justice J.V. Milvain Visiting Chair in Advocacy at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, 2004. His research has been cited on numerous occasions by the Supreme Court of Canada and other Canadian courts, by the Privy Council, and by courts in New Zealand and Australia.

He is legal counsel to the Ombudsman of Ontario, and has acted as a consultant to the government and to media on criminal law matters, and is a frequent lecturer at judicial and professional education seminars. Most recently Professor Paciocco acted as the s.696.3(3) delegate of the Minster of Justice conducting the review into the wrongful conviction of David Mullins-Johnson.

W. Vincent Clifford
Associate Commission Counsel

W. Vincent Clifford (B.Sc. Honours, 1986, Saint Mary’s University; LL.B. 1989, Dalhousie Law School) was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1991. He is the senior associate in the law firm of Edelson and Associates where he conducts a criminal litigation practice that includes the defence of charges under Canadian Federal statutes, including the Criminal Code of Canada. He also acts as counsel in Provincial regulatory proceedings and Coroner’s inquests.

Mr. Clifford’s practice focuses primarily on trial advocacy. He has acted as counsel in many high profile and complex criminal cases. He also has extensive experience and expertise in successfully arguing constitutional issues that involve the violation of rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Canadian Charter.

Mr. Clifford was a senior instructor for the Criminal Law component of the Law Society of Upper Canada Bar Admission Course (Ottawa) in 2001 through 2005. He has been a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa Law School, Carleton University Law program and Algonquin College. He has presented numerous papers on criminal law matters to various legal and academic audiences. Mr. Clifford has also been designated by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law.

He is currently enrolled in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, where he is completing his Masters Degree, specializing in criminal law.

R. L. (Bob) Giasson
Chief Administrative Officer

Retired from Manitoba Justice on Dec. 31, 1999 as the A/Assistant Deputy Minister, Courts Division. He was responsible for the management and leadership of the Courts Division by promoting the effective, impartial and efficient administration of the judicial process to serve the needs of Manitobans involved in criminal, civil and family disputes before the courts.

With over 35 years of service in Courts he held various positions including Registrar Court of Queen’s Bench, Executive Director of Winnipeg Courts, Magistrate, Inspector of Courts of Manitoba and French Language Services Coordinator for the Manitoba Court system. He is an honorary life member of the Association of Court Administrators of Canada [ACCA].

In 2006 he was appointed Chief Administrative Officer of the Driskell Inquiry.