Five new judges have been appointed to B.C. provincial court as the province moves to fill a void that forced some judges to throw out charges on everything from drunk driving to cocaine trafficking.

Attorney General Mike de Jong made the announcement Friday, saying the new judges will help ensure more timely management of court cases.

Delays owing to more work than judges could handle have led to stays on several charges, including a cocaine trafficking allegation against a man who waited 2.5 years to get to court.

In 2005 and 2006 there were 143 judges, but that number had dropped to 124.5 by 2010.

The appointments come only days after B.C.'s tough new drunk driving laws came into effect, which are expected to require more judicial resources.

The new judges are Sheri Mark for the Kamloops District, Roy Dickey in South Fraser, Steven Merrick in the Coast District, James MacCarthy on North Vancouver Island and Marguerite Shaw in the Okanagan.

Judges have admitted frustration in the lack of manpower, in several court rulings, saying it's unfair for people to pay for a lawyer and show up for trial dates that get cancelled or postponed because of overbooking.

In two highly critical judgements, Judge Darrell O'Byrne chastised the provincial government for delays in hiring judges that set off several stays in charges for those who waited too long before their case went to trial.

"The failure of the government to act has now imposed a crisis upon the Cariboo Northeast District," he wrote in the judgment released on the provincial court website.

In May, Judge Ronald Webb stayed several drunk driving allegations in Golden, B.C., and a charge of cocaine trafficking against a Cranbrook man.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he summed up in the ruling staying the trafficking charge against Darren Williams.

Webb said police were also frustrated because their investigations took far too long to come to an end.

The process for appointing judges starts with applications by lawyers -- who typically have at least 10 years experience -- that are reviewed by a B.C. Judicial Council.

The council, made of the chief judge, other judges, lawyers and lay people, makes recommendations to the attorney general. The final appointment is made through a cabinet order-in-council.

New judges have also been recently appointed in Surrey, Prince George and Cranbrook.