FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2026
Anti-Violence Organization Responds to SCC Decision as Debate Continues Over Jordan Timelines and Survivor Justice
Vancouver, BC: On Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in R. v. Vrbanic, a case examining the Jordan framework and constitutional timelines related to criminal court delay under section 11(b) of the Charter.
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) intervened in this case to raise concerns about the impact rigid delay timelines can have on victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence.
The Jordan framework establishes presumptive timelines for criminal prosecutions. When those timelines are exceeded, charges may be stayed and prosecutions halted. BWSS argued that intimate partner violence and sexual assault cases present unique complexities — including trauma-informed protections, vulnerable complainants, extensive evidentiary processes, publication bans, digital evidence, and coordination across multiple systems and services — which can extend the time required to prepare prosecutions.
BWSS intervened in R. v. Vrbanic after raising concerns since 2018 about the impact the Jordan framework can have on victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence, particularly as these cases have become increasingly procedurally complex.
“While the Court did not make major changes to the Jordan framework, the decision provides important clarification regarding the complex case exception,” said Caitlin Ohama-Darcus, counsel for BWSS. “The separate reasons from Justice Rowe are also significant in recognizing concerns about the impact of stays on victims and broader public confidence in the administration of justice. These are issues BWSS and other interveners have been highlighting for years.”
BWSS intervened to ensure that the realities facing victims and survivors of gender-based violence were before the Court and reflected in the national legal conversation around access to justice, procedural fairness, and public safety.
“The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision reflects the growing tension inside the criminal legal system itself,” said Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of BWSS. “Cases involving intimate partner violence and sexual violence are increasingly complex because survivors require protections, accommodations, and trauma-informed processes. When the system is not adequately resourced to support that complexity, victims and survivors can experience delay, retraumatization, and, in some cases, the loss of any opportunity for accountability or legal recognition.”
BWSS will continue advocating for survivor-centred justice system reforms, coordinated risk assessment, trauma- and violence-informed responses, and meaningful access to justice for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
About BWSS
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) works to end violence against women and gender-based violence through crisis support, advocacy, counselling, legal advocacy, violence prevention, training, and systemic change initiatives across British Columbia.
