The Honourable Hugh K. O’Connell brings more than three decades of distinguished legal and judicial experience to his consulting role with TNT Justice Consultants. With a career spanning from federal prosecution to the Superior Court of Justice, Justice O’Connell has earned a reputation for fairness, professionalism, and deep subject matter expertise across criminal, civil, and family law. His insights and experience provide unparalleled value to organizations seeking to strengthen training, courtroom preparedness, and justice-related practices.
Appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2009, Justice O’Connell presided over a broad range of matters, including civil motions and trials, family law cases, and a significant focus on criminal indictable offences. His judicial work included both judge-alone and jury trials, requiring meticulous command of procedure and evidence as well as the ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues with impartiality.
Throughout his 15 years on the bench, Justice O’Connell demonstrated a consistent commitment to fairness, accessibility, and respect for all who appeared before the court. He also remained engaged in continuous professional development, participating in judicial education programs and seminars to stay current on evolving legal issues and jurisprudence.
Before his judicial appointment, Justice O’Connell served two decades as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice and later the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. His work encompassed the full spectrum of federal prosecutions, including narcotics offences, conspiracies, importation cases, and other complex criminal matters.
He held senior leadership roles as Team Leader at both Old City Hall (Ontario Court of Justice) and the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, where he supervised teams of prosecutors, liaised with the judiciary, and oversaw federal prosecutions. His responsibilities included federal wiretap applications, providing guidance on investigative techniques, and assuming administrative oversight. He later advanced to Deputy Director of the Ontario Regional Office of the Public Prosecution Service, further shaping prosecutorial practices at a systemic level.
From 2001 to 2009, Justice O’Connell also served as legal counsel to the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), created after 9/11 under the RCMP. In this role, which required top-secret clearance, he provided legal support on national security investigations, including wiretaps, search warrants, and sensitive intelligence-related matters. In addition, he worked extensively with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) on organized crime cases and supported the Biker Enforcement Unit, prosecuting motorcycle gang-related cases and advising on investigative strategies.
Justice O’Connell has long been committed to advancing the legal profession through teaching and training. From 2003 to 2009, he served as a faculty member at the Federation of Law Societies’ National Criminal Law Program, the leading criminal law education forum in Canada. There, he prepared published papers and delivered presentations to audiences of judges, Crown counsel, defence counsel, and other legal professionals, often exceeding 500 attendees per session.
He has also provided specialized training for federal prosecutors, Ontario Crown counsel, and law enforcement at both the Toronto Police College and the Ontario Police College. His instructional areas have included search and seizure law, wiretap procedures, Charter issues, and expert evidence.
In his current role with TNT Justice Consultants, Justice O’Connell applies his extensive judicial and prosecutorial background to training and advisory work. He assists with moot court preparation, presiding as a mock trial judge to provide realistic feedback on courtroom testimony, evidentiary presentation, and professional demeanor. Drawing on his experience from the bench, he prepares candidates and professionals for the realities of court proceedings, enhancing their confidence and effectiveness.