Crown attorneys' group accuses politicians, media of 'attacks' on justice system

The president of the Ontario Crown Attorneys' Association says "attacks" launched by "politicians, media and members of the public" in response to two high-profile criminal cases amount to "affronts to the rule of law."

Donna Kellway cites what she calls attacks on the Crown over its sentencing proposals in the cases of two people associated with the "Freedom Convoy" protest and criticism of counsel in the recent Hockey Canada trial based on their gender.

Several Conservative MPs, including party leader Pierre Poilievre, have attacked the Crown's approach to sentencing two key organizers of the "Freedom Convoy."

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who have yet to be sentenced, were convicted of mischief in April for their roles in organizing the protest, which blockaded streets around Parliament Hill for more than three weeks in early 2022.

In the Toronto Star, a recent opinion piece by a staff columnist questioned why female lawyers would represent men accused of sexual crimes in the Hockey Canada trial.

Kellway says Canadians have seen political attacks on the justice system south of the border and must do everything they can to safeguard the system's independence.