The Minister of Justice of Quebec, Simon Jolin-Barrette, is reactivating a think tank to find solutions to the delays in criminal matters that are undermining the judicial system.
The objective: to reduce the time before criminal trials are heard by a judge in order to prevent defendants from being able to request a stay of proceedings against them because they have not been heard within a reasonable time – and also to prevent victims from being caught in an endless process.
The Table Justice-Québec has thus been relaunched to tackle the task, the Minister pointed out. She had been activated in recent years to find ways to make justice work despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
This table will bring together the main players in the justice system: it includes the ministries of Justice and Public Security, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), the courts of Quebec, the Bar, the Network of Centers for assistance to victims of criminal acts (CAVACS) and associations of defense lawyers.
Their mission will be to identify the good practices that work in certain courthouses, put measures in place and find how to maintain the benefits resulting from those that have been implemented.
The Minister wishes to take advantage of the summer to hold a first meeting in order to launch the process.
The question of judicial delays concerns everyone, considers Minister Jolin-Barrette.
“We can and we must benefit from everyone’s expertise in order to develop best practices and implement concrete solutions to reduce lead times in a sustainable way. Victims want to be able to turn the page quickly and that’s also what we want for them. It is by working together and pooling our efforts that we will be able to offer the people of Quebec a justice system that works efficiently, that is accessible and above all that is human,” he said in a press release.
Finding solutions to delays in criminal matters was also a commitment made by the Department of Justice in the agreement reached with the Chief Justice of the Court of Quebec, Lucie Rondeau, which put an end to their standoff over the charge of work of judges.
The minister had also committed to creating 14 new judicial positions at the Court of Quebec, more judicial arms and ears to hear cases should also help to shorten the time before trials are held. The selection process for these magistrates will be launched shortly, the minister’s office is assured.