Trial Lawyers Association of BC warns Crown prosecutor shortage could lead to delays in criminal cases

The Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia has cautioned that a shortage of Crown prosecutors could lead to delays in criminal cases.The warning came following a decision by the BC Prosecution Service not to fund additional positions in the town of Veron despite pleas to do so.In a statement, TLABC president Michael Elliott said the BCPS' move was a "stark reminder of the ongoing underfunding crisis within our justice system.""In recent months, BC has faced an escalating series of courtroom closures, because the government underfunded the BC Sheriff Service, leading to a serious sheriff shortage across the province," he lamented. "On top of the courtroom closures, the government is now refusing to fund fully staffed Crown prosecutor offices."He suggested that the failure to increase the number of Crown prosecutors in Vernon "not only places undue pressure on the current legal professionals but also jeopardizes the timely administration of justice" and "will obviously lead to delays for criminal matters in the area.""The justice system is the cornerstone of our society, and it is imperative that we provide it with the necessary resources to function effectively," Elliott continued. "The current situation in Vernon is unsustainable and threatens to undermine public confidence in our legal system. We call on the provincial government to take immediate action to address this critical shortfall."According to Castanet, Vernon has not received a single new Crown prosecutor since 2001. Since then, the population has grown by 33%, leading to a rise in the complexity and number of cases existing lawyers must tackle. Earlier this month, BC Crown Counsel Association vice president Jennifer Johnson requested an increase, however just days later the BCPS revealed that no new positions were planned for Vernon..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.