Chatham's battered courts are about to get some much-needed help.
The courts in Chatham have dealt with repeated delays and backlogs for two years, but a new judge was assigned to Chatham by the province -- starting this week.
Justice Courtney Harris will bring the courts' complement back up to three judges, its normal level before the pandemic.
The courts have been making due with judges from outside of the jurisdiction during this trying time. Some court cases in Chatham have taken three and four years to resolve because of repeated delays.
Defence lawyer Ken Marley told CK News Today the courts have been short-staffed and underfunded for far too long, creating frustration among lawyers, judges, and clients alike.
Marley said he's grateful the new judge has been assigned to Chatham, adding it's long overdue.
"There have been times when courts have not been able to run. Cases have had to be put off just because of a lack of judicial resources. I'm happy that the province has finally made its appointment in Chatham," said Marley.
Marley said people expect the judicial and court system to run smoothly and be conducted fairly.
"When cases linger for a year, or two years, or three years, there are often victims on the one side of the case who are waiting to see justice done" he said.
Marley also believes a poorly run court system will not only deter new defence lawyers from entering the profession, but the ensuing delays will cost them money in the long run.
"The private lawyers who are there representing the accused or conducting family litigation, they're usually sole business people and ultimately what they do for a living has to make sense financially," Marley noted.
At the end of May 2024, the Ontario government announced it is spending over $29 million to appoint at least 25 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice and hire 190 more Crown prosecutors, victim support and court staff.
The province said the investment will help the courts keep pace with a growing number of complex cases and address the existing backlog of criminal cases.
Some cases in Ontario have had to be thrown out because of lengthy delays.