Alberta defence lawyers to refuse serious cases including homicides

Defence lawyers in Alberta are taking what they call "drastic action" to demand the provincial government fix the legal aid system. Starting Thursday, Sept. 1, lawyers will refuse certificates for new cases for serious criminal charges including sexual offences, firearms-related crimes and homicides. “Across the province, defence lawyers have decided enough is enough. We made clear that we would no longer work most of the time for free to prop up a system that forces the most vulnerable of