Limit on preliminary inquiries doesn’t apply to some ongoing cases, Supreme Court rules

The Supreme Court of Canada says a change to the law that limited the right of an accused person to a preliminary inquiry does not apply to some ongoing cases.The top court’s ruling today helps clarify who is eligible for a preliminary inquiry – a judicial hearing to see if there is enough evidence for a trial – in light of a 2019 amendment to the criminal law.In September 2019, a Criminal Code change abolished the right to a preliminary inquiry for an accused charged with an indictable offence punishable by less than 14 years in prison.