Lac Seul court move challenging

Although nobody has missed their court appearance yet, Lac Seul Chief Clifford Bull is concerned about the recent move of the community’s court to Sioux Lookout.
“It has been challenging for people who have no means of travel, especially people who are on welfare,” Bull said. “They don’t have money to pay for a taxi ride. It’s challenging.”
The court had previously been held monthly in the Frenchman’s Head band office but it was moved to Sioux Lookout Feb. 26 and is scheduled to be held there until the June court date. Sioux Lookout is about a 30 to 40-minute drive from where the court had previously been held in Frenchman’s Head.
“It became an issue there (at band office) because of the safety of band office employees,” said Lac Seul Police Sgt. David Tanner. “So they changed it to the complex.”
But Tanner said it was difficult to hold hearings in the complex because it was a large room.
He said Justice Peter Bishop couldn’t always hear what was going on or hear the court clerks.
Tanner said notices were posted around the community notifying them of the change.
“Everyone attended in Sioux Lookout at the new courthouse,” Tanner said. “There have been no problems with it so far.”
But Tanner did note it was more work for the Lac Seul Police to transport the people who were facing charges to the Sioux Lookout courthouse.
“We have to get there a little bit early to ensure people have access to their lawyers,” Tanner said. “We take them in the (police) trucks and we have a prisoner van.”
Tanner said it is advantageous for the people to have their court located in their own community.
“When there is another location suitable for the court here, the judge is certainly willing to look at that,” Tanner said.
Bull said the community is currently considering the construction of a new courthouse in Frenchman’s Head by this summer.
“Although it has not been confirmed yet, chief and council are planning to build a courthouse adjacent to the existing Lac Seul Police station,” Bull said.