Ontario defence lawyers are being urged to reject a new measure meant to address a growing backlog of criminal cases that the Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA) says will create a “coercive dynamic” pushing accused people to plead guilty — even when they may be innocent or have a defence.
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“When Legal Aid will fund a guilty plea but not a trial, you know there is a problem. These courts and new certificates are designed to induce guilty pleas and grease the wheels of injustice,” Ottawa lawyer Michael Spratt wrote.
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Read Betsy Powell’s full article: Toronto Star
