The Role of Defence Counsel at Sentencing
Author | Naomi M Lutes |
Pages | 129-152 |
129
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Role of Defence Counsel at
Sentencing
Naomi M Lutes
e end of a trial is not the end of the criminal process for an accused
person. Far from it. A judge must determine whether an oender will
go to jail, how long the sentence will be, what ancillary orders will
ow, and whether the sentence may be served in the community. e
sentencing hearing is, in many ways, the most important — most con-
sequential — component of the criminal justice process for an accused
person. As Dickson J wrote in R v Gardiner, quoting Sir James Fitzpat-
rick Stephens,“[T]he sentence is the gist of the proceeding. It is to the
trial what the bullet is to the powder.”
Nearly two-thirds of adult criminal cases in Canada result in a nd-
ing of guilt. A sentencing hearing will, as a result, occur for about two-
thirds of adults who encounter the criminal justice system. Since most
of these oenders will have decided to plead guilty rather than have a
trial before a judge or jury, “[s]entencing is, in respect of most oenders,
the only signicant decision the criminal justice system is called upon
[] SCR at [Gardiner].
Zoran Miladinovic, “Adult Criminal and Youth Court Statistics in Canada, /”
Juristat, Statistics Canada Catalogue no --X ( January ), online: www.
statcan.gc.ca/n/pub/--x//article/-eng.htm.
130 |
to make.” It is a vital aspect of the trial process — both from a proced-
ural and a philosophical perspective. Arguably, sentencing is where the
ultimate right — liberty — is squarely placed in jeopardy.
While other chapters within this text discuss many of the substan-
tive components of sentencing, this chapter will examine the role of the
defence lawyer within the sentencing process. Although the imposition
of sentence is ultimately within the purview of the judge, both Crown
and defence counsel play a critical role in assisting the court in arriving
at a t sentence. While Crown counsel represents the state and acts in
the public interest, the defence lawyer unreservedly advocates in favour
of the oender. e essential role of defence counsel at sentencing is to
eectively and persuasively advance to the court a proposed sentence that
is t and in the best interests of the oender. Eective advocacy by defence
counsel during a sentencing hearing can mean the dierence between
a carceral sentence and a sentence served in the community; between a
criminal conviction and a non-conviction nding of guilt; between a sig-
nicant ne and community service.
In the context of sentencing, the issues to which a defence law-
yer must advert could ll an entire book. Every sentencing principle
and consideration is relevant to the defence lawyer’s task. is chapter
focuses on the adversarial nature of the sentencing hearing, the role
of the defence lawyer in advocating for a particular sentence, ethical
considerations, and the myriad collateral and ancillary considerations
that could aect an oender.
A. THE ROLE OF DEFENCE COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM
e right to counsel is a cornerstone of Canada’s criminal justice sys-
tem. is right has long been recognized as a principle of fundamental
justice — essential to a free and democratic society. An accused person
has a constitutional right to the advice and representation of a lawyer
Gardiner,above note at .
This chapter focuses on adult oenders. For a comparison of the adult and youth sen-
tencing regimes, see Chapter in this book.
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