R. v. K.J.M.

Time limits for adult criminal trials also apply to youth criminal trials, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Decision

Date: November 15, 2019

Neutral Citation: 2019 SCC 55

Breakdown of the decision:

• Majority: Justice Michael Moldaver dismissed the appeal (Chief Justice Wagner and Justices Gascon, Côté, and Rowe agreed)
• Dissenting: Justices Rosalie Silberman Abella and Russell Brown said a shorter timeline of 15 months should apply to young people to reflect the uniquely prejudicial impact of delay on them, and would have allowed the appeal (Justice Martin agreed)
• Dissenting: Justice Andromache Karakatsanis agreed with the majority that adult time limits also apply to youth trials, but said timeliness is even more important for young people than for adults, and so would have stayed KJM’s charges

On appeal from the Court of Appeal of Alberta

Case information (38292)

Webcast of hearing

• Lower court rulings:
• Decision on application for stay of proceedings (Provincial Court of Alberta) (not available online)
• Appeal (Court of Appeal of Alberta)