Kamloops sits where Highway 1, Highway 5 and Highway 97 meet, and a lot of criminal charges in the Thompson-Nicola start on one of them. As a criminal lawyer Kamloops clients hire for serious charges, Julian Van Der Walle handles impaired driving, drug, assault, bail and firearms files at the Kamloops Law Courts. Call 1-877-212-9645 for a free, confidential consultation.
LOCAL COURT EXPERIENCE
SUN PEAKS TO LOGAN LAKE
CALL 1-877-212-9645
Criminal charges in Kamloops are heard at the Kamloops Law Courts on Columbia Street, which houses both Provincial Court and BC Supreme Court. It is also the registry for the circuit court sittings in Merritt, Clearwater and Lillooet, so a lot of Thompson-Nicola files run through this building at some point.
Kamloops RCMP is one of the busiest detachments in the Interior. Files here come from downtown and North Shore calls, Thompson Rivers University, and highway enforcement on the Trans-Canada and the Coquihalla, where drug interdiction stops are common. Julian represents people from Kamloops, Sun Peaks, Chase, Barriere, Logan Lake and the surrounding area.
Highway drug stops and impaired investigations live or die on the Charter. Julian reads the full disclosure, tests the reason for the stop and the scope of any search under sections 8 and 9, and checks whether you were given a real chance to call a lawyer under section 10(b).
He keeps an eye on the 18 month Jordan ceiling in Provincial Court and the 30 month ceiling in Supreme Court, and builds the defence around the result you need, whether that is a withdrawal, a stay, a discharge or an acquittal.
The first conversation is free, by phone or video. Julian goes over the charge, your release conditions and your court dates, requests full disclosure from Crown, and then advises whether the file should be resolved early or set for trial.
Kamloops is about an hour and a half from Vernon. Julian handles the key appearances himself and keeps you in the loop between them.
It starts with a free consultation. Julian looks at the charge, the stop or the arrest in Kamloops, and gives you an honest read on where you stand.
Julian works through the disclosure, from the police notes and in-car video to any search warrant and phone downloads, looking for Charter breaches and gaps in Crown's case.
Julian represents you at the Kamloops Law Courts from bail to resolution talks with Crown or a full trial, whichever gets you the best result.
“I sincerely promise and swear that I will diligently, faithfully, and to the best of my ability execute the offices of barrister and solicitor; that I will not promote suits on frivolous pretences; that I will not pervert the law to favour or prejudice anyone; but in all things conduct myself truly and with integrity; and that I will uphold the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of all persons according to the laws of Canada and of the province of British Columbia.”
Julian van der Walle
Julian Van Der Walle defends charges across Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola. The files he sees most from the area are impaired driving and IRPs, drug possession and trafficking from highway stops, assault, and bail hearings for people held after an arrest. For files from the Nicola Valley, see his Merritt page.
Got an IRP on the Trans-Canada, the Coquihalla or in town? You have 7 days from being served to apply for a review with RoadSafetyBC. Learn about IRP reviews.
Coquihalla and Trans-Canada drug stops often turn on why the vehicle was stopped and searched. That is where Julian starts. Drug charge defence.
From a downtown or North Shore bar fight to a domestic assault charge, Crown often starts high. Julian tests self-defence, the video and the witnesses. Assault defence.
With a university in town, a lot of computer and online charges in Kamloops involve students, phones and social media. The digital evidence is where the defence lives. Computer crime defence.
Firearms charges carry mandatory minimums in some cases, so storage, licensing and the search matter a great deal. Firearms offence defence.
Trials and sentencing hearings at the Kamloops Law Courts can be appealed to the BC Court of Appeal, but the notice has to be filed within 30 days. Criminal appeals.
Impaired, over 80 and refusal charges from Highway 1, 5 and 97 bring a licence prohibition and a record. Julian challenges the stop, the demand and the breath tests. DUI and impaired driving defence.
Theft, fraud, mischief, breach and other Criminal Code charges laid in Kamloops. Other criminal charges.
Whatever the charge, get advice before you speak to police. The consultation with Julian is free, confidential and comes with no obligation.
Yes. Charges from the Coquihalla and the Trans-Canada around Kamloops are usually heard at the Kamloops Law Courts. Highway stop cases often turn on whether police had grounds to detain and search, which is where the defence starts.
If police hold you, you have to see a justice within 24 hours. Crown either agrees to release on conditions or asks for detention under section 515 of the Criminal Code. A release plan and a surety make a real difference. How a surety helps with bail.
Those towns have circuit court sittings, but the registry is in Kamloops and serious matters are often dealt with there. Julian can handle files from anywhere in the Thompson-Nicola.
It can, especially in programs with practicums or professional licensing. Getting advice early gives you the best shot at a result that keeps a conviction off your record.
Call 1-877-212-9645 or send Julian a message through the contact form. If you are being held, have a bail hearing coming up at the Kamloops Law Courts, or have an IRP review window closing, say so on the call.
If you have been criminally charged and are not sure what to do, you need to get competent legal representation right away.
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