The respondent, a criminal defence lawyer, sought to withdraw as counsel of record for an accused after his legal aid funding was suspended.
The Territorial Court refused her application to withdraw.
The Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory dismissed her application for certiorari.
The Court of Appeal allowed her appeal, finding the Territorial Court had no discretion to refuse withdrawal.
The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the Crown's appeal, holding that a court has the inherent or necessarily implied jurisdiction to refuse counsel's request to withdraw for non-payment of fees if allowing withdrawal would cause serious harm to the administration of justice.
