CBC Manitoba: Workload deluge causing spike in prosecutions being tackled by defence lawyers: Manitoba Crown attorney union

Government data shows 14 of the 78 cases were outsourced because of a workload issue, while the remainder were related to an undisclosed conflict. The kind of cases outsourced due to workload include charges of assault, weapons possession, fraud, theft and arson. 

Brandon Trask, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, called it “problematic” that the government is turning to defence lawyers to address staffing shortages.

He said it is important for victims and members of the public to have a clear explanation as to why a case is being outsourced.

“It is really important for the public to see, ‘this is how the sausage is made,'” he said.

To read the entire story, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.