Court suspensions will cost people money, add safety risk, says retired prosecutor

A retired Crown prosecutor in Newfoundland and Labrador says suspensions at provincial court will make life harder for those seeking justice, and will have an impact far beyond the walls of the courtroom.

"People are using small claims [court] all the time, and to have that avenue cut off, especially when all the work was done to establish it in the first place, is a big issue," Mike Murray told CBC Radio's On The Go .

Several operations inside the provincial court system, including civil hearings, traffic hearings and some circuit courts have been suspended since Nov. 28.

Murray said the suspensions likely boil down to staffing issues and a lack of sheriff's officers in the system.

Video N.L. provincial courts taking ‘extreme measures’ with traffic. Civil hearings adjourned indefi