The idea of the justice system turning on the very people it is intended to protect is terrifying, yet all too often this is a reality. After hearing about one case of wrongful conviction in my undergraduate studies, my passion was ignited, and I was set on a path to examine this issue more closely. Today, I am a PhD candidate in the department of Law and Legal Studies where my current research examines the role of defence counsel and how they can deploy routine communication methods to share important case information in an effort to guard against a wrongful conviction. This research is important as it not only posits the possibility for new remedies but because it also examines ways in which the Criminal Defence Bar can work to remedy the power imbalance present in the criminal justice system.
Supervisor:
Dr. Dale Spencer
Research Interests:
Wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, social justice, criminal jury trials, faulty forensic science
Education:
2015 – Master of Arts, Legal Studies (Carleton University)
2008 – Bachelor of Arts, Honours, Criminology (Carleton University)
2004 – Master of Arts, English (Carleton University)
2001 – Bachelor of Humanities (Carleton University)
Teaching Experience (Fall 2015-present):
LAWS 4306 (Criminal Law Issues)
LAWS 4307 (Medical Criminal Law Issues)
LAWS 4802 (Criminal Jury Trials)
CRCJ 4001 (Special Topics in Criminology)
Teaching Awards:
Carleton University Student Association Open Excellence Award (2023)
Carleton University Student Association Teaching Excellence Award (2022)
Faculty of Public Affairs Teaching Excellence Award (2020)
Capital Educator’s Award Finalist (2016)
Conference Presentations:
“Let’s Talk About It: Examining the Informal Networks That Exist Among Defence Counsel” presented at NEXUS Conference on Wrongful Convictions hosted by the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, September 27, 2022.
Invited Talks:
“Mr. Big Policing” MacEwan University, May 14, 2024.
“Women in Leadership” Carleton’s Women Empowerment Club, Carleton University, December 6, 2023.
“Human Library” Ottawa Technical Secondary School, November 23, 2023.
“Wrongful Conviction Day (with special guest exoneree Jamie Nelson)” Carleton University, November 14, 2022.
“Introduction to Wrongful Conviction Day” Wrongful Conviction Day, Guelph Humber College, October 7, 2022.
“Blissfully Ignorant” The Innocence Talks, McGill Faculty of Law, March 7, 2022.
“Introduction to Wrongful Conviction” Carleton University Department of Sociology and Anthropology, January 28, 2015.
Non-Academic Work:
In print: “Motherhood and Wrongful Conviction in the United States: Making Something Out of Nothing” in Rebecca Bromwich & Alisha Chohan, eds. Mothers and Law: Critical Perspectives on Formal Governance of and by Those Identified as Mothers (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Co-Anchor and Writer, Real Life Wrongs Podcast, June 2022 – Present
Celia, Bildfell, “Crime, Crime and more Crime… Why we can’t get enough and what we can do to help victims of the criminal justice system” (published online October 21, 2022 at https://www.hercampus.com/school/carleton/crime-crime-and-more-crime-why-we-cant-get-enough-and-what-we-can-do-to-help-victims-of-the-criminal-justice-system).
“A New Perspective” in Courage, Curiosity, Teapots and Snakes: Stories of Teaching at Carleton University (Ottawa: Carleton University, 2019).
Media Appearances:
- Hendel, Harriet, “Wrongful Convictions in Canada” Pursuing Justice Podcast online: <https://open.spotify.com/show/4UlEng0Yc61ne2GkzSmiF7>.
- Simon, Robyn, “How hard is it to right a wrongful conviction in Canada?” The Big Story Podcast episode 108 (January 24, 2024) <online: https://thebigstorypodcast.ca/2024/01/24/how-hard-is-it-to-right-a-wrongful-conviction-in-canada>.
- Sturgeon, Nathalie, “N.B. Wrongful Conviction Case Raises Questions About Non-Dislosure Evidence” Global News(January 5, 2024) <online: https://globalnews.ca/video/10207405/n-b-wrongful-conviction-case-raises-questions-about-non-disclosure-evidence>.
- Lynde-Smith, Jena, “Wrongful convictions in Canada: Carleton Researcher Dedicates Life to Advocacy” Carleton University News Room (August 30, 2023) <online: https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/wrongful-convictions-in-canada)>.
- Bildfell, Celia “Crime, Crime and more Crime… Why we can’t get enough and what we can do to help victims of the criminal justice system” (published online October 21, 2022 at https://www.hercampus.com/school/carleton/crime-crime-and-more-crime-why-we-cant-get-enough-and-what-we-can-do-to-help-victims-of-the-criminal-justice-system).
Administrative Responsibilities
2024-Present, Law and Legal Studies Towards Anti-Oppression Sub-Committee (Contract Instructor representative), Carleton University.
2022-Pressent, Law and Legal Studies Department Board (Contract Instructor representative), Carleton University.
2022-Present, Advisor to Innocence Carleton student group.