It's an issue that court officials say continues to slow down the court process and frustrates people involved in all areas of the legal system, and in Lac La Biche Provincial Court on Monday, April 29, the judge's response to no-show defendants was 'warranted'.
Presiding Judge G.A. Rice expressed some concerns several times during the Monday docket — that featured 62 individual cases — about many of the no-shows carrying over court dates several times.
One woman's single assault charge stems back to October of last year. The proceedings have been adjourned several times — recently on April 8 and 15 court dates when she called in to say she couldn't get rides to court. She called her lawyer on Monday to say there was no ride for her that day either.
"I think a warrant is appropriate," said Judge Rice, "because this is a continuing issue."
Rice issued eight warrants for no-shows in Monday's Lac La Biche court sitting, plus additional warrants that would be held until the May 13 court date for three no-shows who had told their court-appointed duty counsel they needed more time to get lawyers.
One of those requests came from a man whose charges of possessing stolen property, assault and failing to attend court have been in the system since late in 2018.
"This has been here eight times," said Rice, looking at the paper-trail of the case.
One youth matter where a male youth has been charged with mischief, assault and unlawful confinement was said to have been brought back and adjourned six times. The matter was last adjourned on April 1 and put over to Monday's court date. The youth was not in court on Monday. Judge Rice grudgingly accepted one more adjournment requested by the court-appointed defence lawyer.
"This is the last one," said Rice, before adjourning the youth proceedings to May 13.
Wanted
In Lac La Biche Provincial Court on Monday, arrest warrants were issued for:
Levi James Cardinal — robbery charges
Destiny Pipe — assault charge
Kalvin Earl Galbraith — Mischief
Jacob Patrick John — Assault and failing to attend court
Shaylene Sanderson — Possession of stolen property
Tyler Cody Monias — Possession of a weapon, Concealed weapon, breach of court conditions
Briana Gladue — Assault with a weapon
Jeremy Gene Berube — Resisting a Peace Officer
Monday's court date also saw several people who had no other choice than to attend, as they were dealing with their day's legal matters from secured locations.
Ten people from Monday's docket list were being held in either the Edmonton Remand Centre, the Calgary Remand Centre of the Fort Saskatchewan Penitentiary, pending their trials. Most were scheduling upcoming bail hearings to see if they could be released.
Criminal court cases — docket days — are heard in the Lac La Biche Provincial Courthouse on the first, second, third and fifth Monday of the Month. Trial days are the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Family and youth matters are heard on the first Tuesday of the month.
Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS. All calls are confidential and if your tip leads to an arrest, you can qualify for a reward.
