Lawyers file court challenge of decision to close Grand Bank Supreme Court

Lawyers on the Bonavista and Burin peninsulas have filed a court challenge to keep the Supreme Court in Grand Bank open.

The court, and three others in Grand Falls-Windsor, Harbour Grace and Wabush, arescheduled to close on July 31, because of a cut announced in the provincial 2016 budget.

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A committee of lawyers calling itself the Burin Peninsula-Clarenville-Bonavista Peninsula Access to Justice Committee Inc. confirmed Wednesday that it filed an application on May 26 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court to have the closure declared illegal.

A hearing to obtain a temporary order will be heard June 29 in Grand Bank.

'This is no longer about politics'

Counsel for the committee, Donald MacBeath, said the application was a last resort.

"After having written to and met with the Minister of Justice and the ChiefJustice with no meaningful progress, we have been left with no other choice but to abandon thepolitical approach in favour of a legal one. This is no longer about politics," he said in a news release.

MacBeath called the budgetarydecision to close the courthouse "unconstitutional" and said the public does not know the full impact.

"The closure will result in longer wait times for hearings for family, insurance, criminal, and estatematters, among others, and will require residents of the Burin Peninsula, ClarenvilleandBonavista Peninsula to travel up to fourhours each way for court appearances in St. John's," he said.

MacBeath said residents are already negatively affected because hearing dates after June 30 have to be moved to St. John's.

He said the committee is also speaking on behalf of judges, "whose independence has come under attack" beacuse of forced transfers, something he says the government does not have the authority to do.

MHAsdefend efforts

Two MHAs for the Burin Peninsula said late Wednesday that they are fighting to keep the courthouse open in Grand Bank as well.

Carol Anne Haley, MHA for the District of Burin-Grand Bank, said she has met with the mayor of Grand Bank and has lobbied within the Liberal caucus.

The MHA for Placentia West-Bellevue, Mark Browne, said he and Haley met with the committee of lawyers as soon as they were asked to,on June 4.