Federal justice minister pledges to appoint more judges ‘in the near future’

“I’m confident that moves will be made expeditiously and they understand the seriousness of the concern on this issue,” Ganley told a news conference. “It’s really troubling to see the family of a victim who is not able to get justice … This is not an issue that arose overnight. This has been building up for years, for decades.”

A jury trial was to begin next week in Edmonton for a 29-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a fellow inmate in August 2011, but a judge with the provincial Court of Queen’s Bench stayed the murder charge last Friday, citing a 62-month delay.

Earlier this year, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling — dubbed the Jordan decision — concluded that such delays must not exceed 30 months in superior courts. The decision also said cases at the provincial level should take not longer than 18 months.

Meanwhile, the Opposition federal Conservatives have taken aim at Raybould, accusing her of dithering on an important file. Critic Michael Cooper, an Alberta MP, has said the dozens of vacancies across the country could lead to thousands of cases being thrown out.

Raybould said the federal government’s comprehensive review of the criminal justice system will include a look at the way judges are appointed.

She said recent court delays have been caused by more than a shortage of judges, but she did not elaborate.

“We have been engaged in looking at the vacancy rates in every jurisdiction and have taken a very concerted approach to our appointments,” she said.

In a mild-mannered statement released after the meeting, the justice ministers specifically cited their desire to end “delays in the completion of criminal cases.”

The statement also confirmed that the ministers spoke about another hot topic: the pending legalization of marijuana for non-medical use.

Raybould said she and her colleagues also discussed issues around public safety, cybercrime, radicalization, violence against indigenous women and girls, Ottawa’s national security consultation, policing services in indigenous communities, and the response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools.

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Federal justice minister pledges to appoint more judges ‘in the near future’

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