Jonathan Black-Branch, the former dean of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, has been arrested in France and faces extradition to Canada on a fraud charge.
Winnipeg police confirmed on September 23, 2026, that Black-Branch was arrested as a result of a Canadian extradition request and that the matter is before the French court system.
Police said a Canada-wide arrest warrant remains in place and that further information will be provided if the extradition application succeeds and Black-Branch is returned to Winnipeg.
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Jonathan Black-branch: What happens next in France
Black-Branch’s arrest does not mean he has been convicted of the Canadian allegation.
The extradition process must proceed through the French courts before Canadian authorities can take custody of him.
Details about the location of the arrest, the timing of any court appearance and the arguments being made in the French proceedings have not been released by Winnipeg police.
The Canadian allegation is fraud over $5,000, a charge connected to allegations about university funds used during Black-Branch’s time as dean.
The allegations involving university funds
Black-Branch served as dean of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law from 2016 until his departure in 2020.
A Law Society of Manitoba disciplinary decision found that he misappropriated approximately $600,000 from the university and the Marcel A.
Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law between April 20, 2017, and February 2020.
The disciplinary record described hundreds of thousands of dollars in professional-development expenses, including payments connected to non-degree programs at Harvard and Yale.
It also found that university money was used for expenses involving meals, travel, accommodation and the International Society of Law and Nuclear Disarmament, an organization with which Black-Branch was associated.
The law society proceeding was a professional-discipline case rather than a criminal trial.
Black-Branch did not attend the Manitoba disciplinary hearing, according to the published decision.
Disbarred in Manitoba and England
The Law Society of Manitoba disbarred Black-Branch in February 2024 and ordered him to pay $36,000 in costs.
The society found that his conduct breached professional obligations relating to integrity and amounted to professional misconduct.
In February 2026, the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales also recorded Black-Branch as disbarred.
The British disciplinary finding relied in part on the Manitoba proceedings and said he had failed to promptly disclose the Canadian disciplinary action to his English regulator.
The British regulator ordered that he not receive a practising certificate while any appeal was pending and imposed costs of £2,670.
University pursued repayment
The University of Manitoba later pursued civil recovery of the money it said had been misused.
A Manitoba court ordered Black-Branch to repay more than $679,000, according to reporting on the civil case.
The judgment was separate from the professional discipline proceedings and from the criminal fraud allegation now underlying the extradition request.
The university has previously said accountability and recovery of the funds remain important issues.
Why the arrest matters
The arrest marks a significant new stage in a case that began with internal concerns about spending at the university and later moved through professional discipline, civil litigation and a police investigation.
If French authorities approve the extradition request, Black-Branch would be returned to Manitoba to face the Canadian criminal process.
He would remain entitled to the presumption of innocence in that proceeding unless and until a court determines otherwise.
For now, the next decision rests with the French courts handling the extradition matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jonathan Black-Branch?
Jonathan Black-Branch is a former dean of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law who is facing a fraud-over-$5,000 allegation in Manitoba.
Where was Jonathan Black-Branch arrested?
Winnipeg police said he was arrested in France following a Canadian extradition request.
What is the extradition process?
French courts must review Canada’s request before authorities can decide whether Black-Branch will be transferred to Manitoba.
Was Jonathan Black-Branch convicted of fraud?
No. The arrest relates to a criminal allegation, and he remains presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
Was Black-Branch disbarred?
Yes. He was disbarred by the Law Society of Manitoba in 2024 and by the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales in 2026.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the Law Society of Manitoba, the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales, University of Manitoba records and Winnipeg police information available on September 23, 2026.
Disclaimer: The criminal allegation and extradition process remain subject to court proceedings, and an arrest is not a finding of guilt.