C.P v. Her Majesty the Queen is a critical case about the rights of young people in the criminal justice system. The Court will determine whether the Youth Criminal Justice Act violates the Charter by denying young people an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in criminal cases. In some criminal cases, adults have an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. In contrast, young people must always seek the Court’s permission to appeal.
The BCCLA will argue that the Youth Criminal Justice Act violates s. 7 of the Charter because it is arbitrary, overbroad, and procedurally unfair. This law puts some of the most vulnerable members of our society, young people, at risk of being wrongfully convicted. The law fails to account for the unique vulnerability of youth and the serious consequences of a finding of guilt for a young person.
The BCCLA is represented by Alison M. Latimer of Alison M. Latimer, Barrister & Solicitor and Jessica Magonet of the BCCLA.
