Alberta criminal defence lawyers escalate job action in legal aid battle

Criminal defence lawyers have escalated job action in an ongoing dispute with the provincial government over the amount of compensation paid by Legal Aid Alberta.

Organizations representing lawyers in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and southern Alberta began job action three weeks ago by refusing to accept certain bail and duty counsel files.

Today, they are to start refusing new cases for the most serious criminal charges, including sexual offences and homicides.

Lawyers in Calgary and Edmonton are also planning a 90-minute walkout for Friday.

Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro says the government is monitoring the situation to make sure nobody is denied access to justice.

He also says nothing is going to be done until a review of the Legal Aid Alberta administrative system is complete.