EDMONTON – A defence lawyer who was charged for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into the Edmonton Remand Centre has applied for inactive status with the Law Society of Alberta.
Police say 31-year-old Justin Sidhu went to the Remand on Thursday, September 19 to meet with a client, and brought a package with him. He reportedly said the package contained privileged lawyer/client information.
Correctional Peace Officers noticed the contraband after the package was delivered to the inmate. They conducted a search, seized the package, and found approximately six grams of methamphetamine, which has an ‘institutional price’ of $6,000.
Sidhu was charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance.
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On Tuesday, the Law Society of Alberta confirmed that Sidhu has submitted an application for inactive status.
A spokesperson for the Law Society says inactive members cannot practice law.
However, before the Law Society can approve Sidhu’s application, it needs to finalize the transfer of his client files to another lawyer to ensure none of his clients are adversely affected. The Law Society must also determine how his trust account will be managed to ensure any client funds held in trust are safe.
At the beginning of October, the Edmonton Police Association demanded that Sidhu be suspended from practicing law until the matter is resolved.
“This is clearly a serious breech of ethics on the part of Mr. Sidhu. His alleged actions clearly put his client, ERC (Edmonton Remand Centre) staff as well as other inmates of this institution in danger. The illegal trafficking of drugs in institutions is an extremely serious problem,” read a letter to the society from EPA President Tony Simioni and EPA Treasurer Bill Clark.
“The public has the right to be reassured that a defense lawyer is not using his/her privileged status as a lawyer to commit crimes or to wilfully be blind to the commission of crimes.”
The EPA also called on the Law Society of Alberta to conduct a thorough, objective and open investigation into the matter.
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