Me Jean-François Benoît
Contact details
Assistant
A graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Sherbrooke in 2006, and having completed his intensive training at the École du Barreau du Québec in Ottawa in 2007, Me Jean-François Benoît has dedicated his career to criminal defense since its inception. His expertise in legal analysis, precision in argumentation, and dynamic courtroom presence quickly earned him recognition in the legal community. He notably distinguished himself by initiating a large-scale class action (Benoît Atchom Makoma v. PGQ et al.), seeking over $200 million for the arbitrary detention of thousands of citizens across the province.
Beyond his practice, Me Benoît is actively engaged in the community. He served as President of the Centre d’intervention en abus sexuels pour la famille (CIASF) and regularly collaborates with the University of Ottawa in Pro Bono programs and mock trials. He also contributes to the training of future police officers at La Cité collégiale and mentors interns to introduce them to the realities of criminal defense.
Me Benoît is recognized for his commitment to his clients and his determination to provide rigorous and thoughtful defense strategies.
Areas of expertise
Involvements
- Member of the Association des Avocats et Avocates de la Défense de l’Outaouais (AADO)
- Provincial Representative of the Association Québécoise des Avocates et Avocats de la Défense (AQAAD)
- President of the Board of Directors at the Centre d’intervention en abus sexuels pour la famille (CIASF)
Distinctions
- Excellence Award from the Association des Avocats et Avocates de la Défense du Québec for his tenacity, perseverance, and relentless dedication in the Lauzon case
Recent successes
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December 2021
The Superior Court approved a partial settlement agreement in a class action aimed at compensating citizens who were detained for more than 24 hours without appearing before the Québec Municipal Court. This case, initiated and led by Me Jean-François Benoît and his partners since 2018, resulted in a global settlement of $412,750 paid by the City of Québec. -
April 2022
The Supreme Court of Canada recognized that police officers violated a client’s right to counsel by failing to inform him that Me Jean-François Benoît had arrived at the police station to speak with him confidentially before his interrogation in a murder case. This violation led to the exclusion of the statement made to the police. -
December 2022
The Superior Court ruled in favor of Me Benoît’s arguments in a 90-page decision, declaring certain provisions of the Courts of Justice Act unconstitutional. The Court found that the detention of thousands of citizens was illegal and that the system implemented by the government did not respect citizens’ rights. The tribunal granted a stay of proceedings for the client, even though he had been found guilty. -
December 2023
The Superior Court approved a partial settlement agreement in a class action to compensate citizens detained for more than 24 hours without appearing before the Montréal Municipal Court. This case, also initiated by Me Jean-François Benoît and his team since 2018, resulted in a global settlement of $4.3 million paid by the City of Montréal. -
February 2024
The Association Québécoise des Avocates et Avocats de la Défense (AQAAD) awarded Me Jean-François Benoît an Excellence Award for his tenacity, perseverance, and dedication in a six-year case where he faced seven different prosecutors from the DPCP and the PGQ. -
June 2024
The Superior Court authorized a class action against the Ministry of Public Security for failing to respect the constitutional right of detainees to be separated from convicted persons, as recognized by the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Me Jean-François Benoît identified this violation and assembled a team to defend affected citizens. -
September 2024
The Superior Court authorized a class action, led by Me Jean-François Benoît, seeking compensation for impoverished citizens who were illegally incarcerated for non-payment of fines issued by the Gatineau Municipal Court or who faced arrest warrants for failure to pay. This significant decision affects hundreds of citizens.