Alberta judge facing a complaint after jailing a pregnant woman who showed up late for court.
Article content
Earlier this month, Edmonton defence lawyer Samantha Labahn asked the Alberta Judicial Council to review the actions of Justice Gordon Hatch, a Court of Justice judge in the court's central region.
Article content
At issue is Hatch's decision to briefly jail Labahn's client, Cinda Doyle, who arrived late to her preliminary inquiry earlier this year on charges of income assistance fraud. Doyle was 36 weeks pregnant and intended to arrive on time but relied on others for rides to the Wetaskiwin courthouse, Labahn said.
Article content
Article content
Doyle arrived a few minutes after Hatch issued a warrant for her arrest. While Hatch ultimately re-released her, he did so only after the day's proceedings, over protests from the defence.
Article content
Article content
Labahn called Hatch's actions 'punitive' and 'vindictive,' and suggested they were part of a pattern among certain central Alberta judges that includes last year's controversial jailing of an Edmonton defence lawyer.
Article content
'(My client) is a very vulnerable person, not even including the fact that she's extremely pregnant,' she said. 'This is somebody who is not financially independent. This is somebody with addiction issues.'
Article content
'She just has barriers, which a lot of people in Wetaskiwin and around those areas have, and (Hatch) knows that, which is why it's particularly jarring.'
Article content
Article content
The Crown withdrew charges against Doyle the following month.
Article content
Article content
Doyle was charged with defrauding more than $5,000 from income assistance programs between 2018 and 2021. She faced a preliminary hearing on the allegations in Wetaskiwin last Feb. 10-11.
Article content
By Hatch's estimate, Doyle was around an hour late on the first day of the hearing. She apologized and blamed snowy road conditions. Doyle was also a minute late, by Labahn's estimate, when court resumed after a break. Hatch warned Doyle twice, telling her she could be detained for arriving late.
Article content
The next morning, Hatch opened court around 9:30 a.m. and issued an arrest warrant after determining Doyle was not in the courthouse.
Article content
'If she arrives in the next 15 minutes, she is to be taken into custody, and we will continue the preliminary inquiry in that fashion,' Hatch told a sheriff, calling Doyle an 'absconding accused.'
Article content
Doyle arrived around 9:42 a.m., Labahn said, upset and afraid she would be sent to the remand centre. Prior to Doyle's arrival, Labahn and the Crown prosecutor agreed she could be re-released under the same conditions, but Hatch refused to hear the application until after the day's proceedings. Hatch said Doyle 'chose' to be late, and gave no indication he would ultimately agree to release her.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
18 minutes ago
- CTV News
Woman files class action lawsuit against Nordik Spa alleging sexual assault
A woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Nordik Spa in Chelsea, Que. on behalf of victims of sexual assault at the popular resort. The claim comes following a visit to the spa on Dec. 2, 2024, during which the plaintiff alleges she was sexually assaulted by a male massage therapist. Lambert Avocats, the law firm representing the class action says Nordik Spa did not take the necessary measures to prevent or put an end to sexual abuse committed at its institution, and that it was therefore liable. The class action includes anyone who was sexually assaulted during a massage at Nordik Spa Village Chelsea. The class action, which was filed Aug. 13 in Montreal, is awaiting authorization by a judge, Lambert Avocats says. The suit notes that there have been previous reports of sexual assault at the spa involving massage therapists, including at least one that led to a conviction and a six-month prison sentence in 2021. Following charges against a massage therapist at Spa Nordik in 2023, a general manager for the spa told CTV News Ottawa that all subcontractors who provide massage therapy services must provide criminal record checks and proof of certification annually. The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of members of the class action, including the cost of the massage, plus taxes and interest, legal fees, and compensation for all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages suffered by the plaintiffs. 'Our client felt that the massage therapists' behaviour and Le Nordik's response to the different cases of sexual abuse that took place at its establishment had to be denounced,' said Lambert Avocats lawyer Philippe Brault in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. 'In addition, a class action is an ideal tool for victims of sexual assault, as recognized by the courts. Indeed, it favours access to justice for victims of sexual violence, who already face enormous difficulties in pursuing individual remedies.' In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Nordik Spa said it wouldn't comment on the class action lawsuit at this time. 'Nordik Spa Village Chelsea does not tolerate any misconduct or inappropriate behaviour on the part of the massage therapists practicing in our spa. All therapists are subject to rigorous screening at the onset, including a criminal background check. We also conduct audits throughout their time at the spa,' Nordik Spa said in an email Wednesday afternoon. 'We will comment on the allegations contained in a class action lawsuit that has just been filed against us, with full transparency, at the appropriate time. It is our policy to cooperate fully with authorities whenever allegations are brought to our attention. For now, we would like to reassure the public about the rigour of our internal controls and our lack of tolerance for any behaviour that compromises the safety or trust of our guests.'
CBC
19 minutes ago
- CBC
RNC to add special constables to police force
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary will be adding special constables to the police force next year — with recruitment set to begin this fall — so that sworn police officers can focus on core policing duties. Premier John Hogan announced the pilot initiative on Wednesday. It will see about a dozen special constables assigned to platoons in the northeast Avalon region. A government news release said the constables will do low-risk work such as supervising detained individuals, guarding crime scenes, performing traffic control at accident scenes and assisting with administrative duties. They will complete a 10-week training program beginning in winter 2026. It will consist of six weeks of in-class training through the Atlantic Police Academy, followed by four weeks of on-the-job training with the RNC. RNC Chief Pat Roach said he expects the pilot project will become permanent. "If we have a tractor-trailer that overturns on the highway, that highway could be closed for five, or six or eight hours, so we can now use these people to look after those sorts of things, and get front-line police officers back doing patrol and responding to calls for service," Roach told reporters at the announcement on Wednesday. Hogan said the provincial government will spend $2.2 million on the pilot program over the next three years, and it will be modelled after programs in Winnipeg and Ottawa. He said it offers an entry-level position for people interested in becoming RNC officers. "If you're interested in policing, I think it's a great opportunity to look at this and see if it's the right fit for you," Hogan said.
CBC
19 minutes ago
- CBC
Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in Surrey, B.C. after winning Alberta byelection
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a press conference about crime in Surrey, B.C. after a projected win in the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection, which would see him returning to the House of Commons this fall. He was there to launch the party's criminal action plan.
