The Criminal Lawyers' Association (CLA) is one of the largest specialty legal organizations in Canada, with more than 1,000 members. We are a voice for criminal justice and civil liberties in Canada. Our advice and perspective is sought by all levels of government and the judiciary on issues relating to legislation and the administration of criminal justice. We also assist our members in every aspect of the practice of criminal litigation. The Association is governed by an executive and board of directors elected by the membership. Our current President is Frank Addario.
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Legal Aid Boycott Update
On Monday June 1, 2009, the CLA Executive Board announced its resolution to request senior Toronto members not to take legal aid certificates in Guns & Gangs and homicide cases, effective immediately. Since that time, a large number of senior and junior Toronto members have pledged their commitment to this resolution, as have large numbers of lawyers in a number of other regions across the Province of Ontario. The purpose of this public resolution is to highlight a notorious imbalance in Ontario's criminal justice system between the government's funding of police and prosecution resources and legal aid defence counsel resources. This imbalance, and the urgent need to redress it, has been recognized by every expert body that has studied the matter. Government has repeatedly promised to fix it for years, but has not. All persons charged with criminal offences across Ontario, including the poor and underprivileged, deserve the right to be defended by adequately resourced and fairly compensated defence lawyers. Our criminal justice system's proper, fair and efficient operation depends as much on skilled and effective defence lawyers being willing and able to fight criminal cases, as it does on properly resourced and compensated police, prosecutors and judges. The Ontario legal aid system has been so consistently underresourced over the past 20 years that it is now chronically unable to ensure that underprivileged and poor criminal defendants get their fair day in court. The government must take immediate steps to fix it.
Letters & DocumentsCriminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba
Letter of Support from the
Family Lawyers AssociationLetter from the Hamilton Law Association
Letter to Bob Ward, Legal Aid Ontario
Letter of Support from the Toronto Lawyers Association
Letter of Support from the Association of Justice Counsel
Letter from the Hon. Hugh R. Locke
An Open Letter Regarding Legal Aid Funding for Defence Counsel from Ontario Law Professors
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal Aid and Constitutional Affairs
Read Frank Addario's letter to the Honourable Chris Bentley about Legal Aid
For further information please
contact the CLA office.
Tel: 416-214-9875 anthony@criminallawyers.ca
Media Coverage
Editorials:
Penny-ante legal aid system creates two tiers of justice
Inequities in legal aid payouts leave the poor at risk
Province fiddles, legal aid burns
Legal Aid shortfall limits justice
The inequities in Legal Aid pay
Articles:CLA 2009 FALL CONFERENCE
SOLD OUT
Press Releases:
Ontario still short-changing Legal Aid Plan lawyers association says– Calls on AG to present a serious strategy for Legal Aid
CLA Members participating in the Legal Aid Boycott
View a list of all Legal Aid Boycott SupportersAre you a lawyer who is interested in participating in the Legal Aid Boycott? Sign up now
