Being charged with a crime can be one of the most stressful and potentially devastating events in one’s life. Hiring an experienced, knowledgeable and effective defence lawyer is an essential first step to taking control of the situation; but how best to do that? Here are some basic tips: Obtain a referral from a trusted friend, … Read More.
Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association Media Release March 20, 2007 Re: Funding Increase To Legal Aid Alberta The Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association (CTLA) welcomes the Government of Alberta’s recent budget announcement increasing funding for our province’s Legal Aid system. Together with enhanced funding for Crown Prosecution and Court services, this additional funding will provide some … Read More.
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE CRIMINAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION & CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 22, 2016 We have learned that the Alberta government intends to quietly proceed with the closure of the Phoenix sex offender treatment program by March 2017. Our two associations view this decision as detrimental to public safety, and one which … Read More.
Clients crave certainty. One method in which we can give our clients some measure of certainty is in approaching the Court having negotiated a joint sentencing position with Crown. These positions, called joint submissions, are often the result of protracted discussions where both Crown and Defence come to a mutually agreeable position to resolve the charges … Read More.
Q&A: What is the appeal process? An appeal is an application to a higher court to review a case for any errors or deficiencies. In Alberta, summary conviction appeals are heard in the Court of Queen’s Bench. The Court of Appeal of Alberta is the highest appellate court in the Province and hears appeals from … Read More.
The trial of Travis Vader (R. v. Vader) has attracted significant public attention in Edmonton over the past few months. While it seemed to have arrived at completion with the release of the judge’s trial decision, it quickly become clear that a major roadblock arose from the judge’s own analysis. Vader was charged with two … Read More.
A number of decisions have been released in the last 18 months where courts have declared certain mandatory minimum sentences in the Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to be unconstitutional. These mandatory minimum sentences mean that judges are not allowed to impose sentences that are lower than a certain minimum established by … Read More.
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision in R v Jordan attempts to strike a new, simpler test for determining when someone’s right to a trial within a reasonable time has been violated. It will now be considered presumptively unreasonable if a person has to wait more than 18 months for their trial to occur in provincial court, or 30 … Read More.