Having a hard time understanding why hiring more judges was an afterthought.
Charges have been thrown out against five men in a $13-million fraud case because there was no judge available until January to preside over their 12-week trial in Toronto.
In a decision staying the charges last week, Superior Court Justice Bonnie Croll said there simply aren't enough judges in a court with a "heavy and challenging caseload" to hear every case in a timely manner.
The ruling comes as the Superior Court of Justice — which handles all civil cases and the most serious criminal cases such as murder — continues to warn that other criminal cases may be dismissed unless the federal justice minister appoints more judges soon.
"Unless all vacancies are filled quickly, we have significant concerns about our court's ability to keep up," Norine Nathanson, senior counsel in the office of the chief justice of the Superior Court, told the Star in a statement this week.
Charges have been thrown out against five men in a $13-million fraud case because there was no judge available until January to preside over their 12-week trial in Toronto.
In a decision staying the charges last week, Superior Court Justice Bonnie Croll said there simply aren't enough judges in a court with a "heavy and challenging caseload" to hear every case in a timely manner.
The ruling comes as the Superior Court of Justice — which handles all civil cases and the most serious criminal cases such as murder — continues to warn that other criminal cases may be dismissed unless the federal justice minister appoints more judges soon.
"Unless all vacancies are filled quickly, we have significant concerns about our court's ability to keep up," Norine Nathanson, senior counsel in the office of the chief justice of the Superior Court, told the Star in a statement this week.
