Are Some Special Prosecutors More Special Than Others?

AllTheLandDealsThatFit
ChillwackVille

Ian Mulgrew asked a bunch more questions about the John Les affair in his recent Vancouver Sun column:

#1) What were the cops doing for nine months -- twiddling their thumbs?

#2) What is so murky that it has taken this long to clarify?

#3) What exactly has special prosecutor Robin McFee been doing?

#4) And why wasn't assistant deputy attorney-general Robert Gillen, who appointed him, kicking his butt given what was at stake?

Not sure what the answers to any of them are.

But Paul Willcocks gave some insight into why the SPs in the L'Affaire Lesser and RailGate just might be a little less efficient than most:

The original (Special Prosecutor) policy called for "senior criminal lawyers in private practice" to be appointed special prosecutors. But in the B.C. Rail case and now in this one (ie. that involving John Les), the (Attorney General's )ministry has picked lawyers who, while highly regarded, are not known for criminal work. Given the massive problems in the B.C. Rail case, this raises questions about why the change was made.

(stuff in brackets mine)

Ya, that's the ticket - why have special prosecutors with criminal experience work complicated cases involving alleged crimes.

I mean that would be flat-out crazy if you wanted to expedite matters wouldn't it?

And if you didn't want to?

Expedite matters, I mean.....

Well?

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