Vancouver — Defence lawyer Peter Ritchie is accustomed to taking on controversial clients. He has represented Doukhobors who stripped naked in court to defend their religious freedom. He was lead counsel for Gillian Guess, who was charged with obstruction of justice for having an affair with an accused in a criminal trial while serving on the jury.
But nothing has prepared him for the Pickton case. "I don't know how many other lawyers have had the experience of 300 media people about to jump on them. I do not know any other, and I certainly haven't," he said in a recent interview.
"Basically, I'm there to do the trial before the jury in the court. The media can be a distraction. We try very hard for it not to be."
Mr. Ritchie is the lead lawyer for Robert Pickton's defence team. He is widely regarded as one of the top lawyers in British Columbia. In a recent rating by his peers in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Mr. Ritchie's legal ability was assessed as high-to-very-high. He was rated "very high" on ethical standards.
Peter Ritchie, defence lawyer for Robert Pickton, makes his way to the B.C. Supreme Court Tuesday, January 23, 2007 for the second day of the Pickton trial in New Westminster. (Chuck Stoody/CP)
Mr. Ritchie was admitted to the bar in 1970 and worked briefly as a prosecutor with the City of Vancouver before starting a law firm with others in 1973. Although he has taken on many criminal cases, the mainstay of his practice is personal-injury matters. He has continued his personal-injury practice over the past five years while representing Mr. Pickton.
Occasionally during pretrial hearings in the Pickton case, he left to appear in other courtrooms on civil matters.
"When any lawyer does a long trial, it is very difficult for his practice," Mr. Ritchie said. "Other clients have to be understanding."
Mr. Ritchie, who does not use a computer or watch television, said he has also relied on the expertise of a team of full-time and part-time legal counsel to share the load in the Pickton trial.
In his earlier years, Mr. Ritchie was an avid competitive skier, racing on university teams, law-school teams and individually. His enthusiasm, though, was not enough.
"If I had won, I may not be a lawyer. I may be like Steve Podborski," Mr. Ritchie said wistfully, referring to the Olympic downhill medalist.
Mr. Ritchie is also known for his passion for bluegrass music. He plays guitar and mandolin in a band with friends. That's an avocation, said the dapper, white-haired lawyer, who is quickly recognizable on the street wearing a beret.
Asked if he was a better skier than a musician, Mr. Ritchie said he could "thin the crowds out doing either."
