Alberta criminal defence lawyers ‘up the ante’ in job action
Global News
Criminal defence lawyers felt like their concerns weren't being taken seriously during a meeting with Justice Minister Tyler Shandro and Legal Aid Alberta CEO John Panusa.
Criminal defence lawyers in Alberta are “upping the ante” following a meeting with Alberta’s Justice Minister and CEO of Legal Aid Alberta.
They will be extending part of their job action for two more weeks.
Until Sept. 2, members of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association in Calgary (CDLA), the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association in Edmonton (CTLA), the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association (SADL) and the Red Deer Criminal Defence Lawyers Association (RDCDLA) are refusing legal aid files requiring:
• bail only services;• courtroom duty counsel services;• complainant counsel services (pursuant to s. 276 of the Criminal Code);• cross-examination
Hundreds of lawyers started the job action on Aug. 8, which was originally set to run until Aug. 19. A Wednesday meeting of defence lawyers decided to extend it.
The group say they will not stop “until we ensure equal access to justice for all Albertans. This will require an immediate increase to the Legal Aid budget and a concrete commitment to fair compensation.”
In a release issued Thursday, the lawyers said a meeting earlier in the week with Tyler Shandro and John Panusa was not what they had hoped.
“We quickly realized we were the only ones prepared to speak frankly about access to justice in Alberta,” the statement said.
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