When facing a criminal charge in Ontario, Canada – clients often ask the lawyers at Aitken Robertson: “How long will my case take?”
Answering this question is not as straightforward as it may seem. There are a variety of factors that come into play prior to being able to answer how long the case will take. For example, the complexity and seriousness of the offense will determine whether a considerable amount of time is required before the criminal matter can be completed. On the contrary, less serious and minor offences will obviously take far less time than serious offences. In addition, the availability of the court may also provide for a short or lengthy matter, as well as how a client wishes to proceed. Do they want to plead guilty and get it over with? Or do they want to set it for trial which will be booked much further down the road.
Another factor to consider is whether more careful consideration be given to the evidence (disclosure) as making a quick decision to end the matter as quickly as possible may not be the best outcome.
Patience is often something that many facing criminal charges do not have but it is important to be patient and have your lawyer assess all possible outcomes and courses of actions when fighting your criminal charge.