In B.C.'s East Kootenays, the courts are clogged with cases that have taken years to get to trial, and local lawyers say that means alleged criminals will continue to go free.

In just two weeks, two alleged drug dealers had their cases thrown out of Cranbrook provincial court, after their lawyers argued that lengthy trial delays violated their charter rights.

The case against Darren Bryan Williams was thrown out Thursday morning after a three-year delay, when his defence lawyer argued for a stay of proceedings under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Two weeks earlier, drug trafficking charges against Aaron Jeffrey Hamm were dropped after the case languished on the docket for 20 months.

Defence lawyer Ron Wise told CTV News that those two cases won't be the last.

"I've got three or four right now on the backburner," he said.

"And I know practically every defence counsel in Cranbrook is probably licking his chops right now."

Police say that a lack of judges and staff cutbacks in local courts are to blame for the delays.

It took months to replace a retiring judge, one of only two serving the East Kootenays.

"I guess you could say there's some frustration on the part of the police," Cranbrook RCMP Cpl. Chris Faulkner said.

In nearby Golden, three impaired driving cases have also been tossed in recent weeks because of the judicial backlog.

And it's not just accused criminals who are waiting too long -- in family court, the waits can be gut wrenching.

"In the past, you've been able to get on within a few months. Now, there's an issue about whether or not you'd actually get on in 2010," family lawyer Ron Buddenhagen said.

But the province's new interim solicitor general is downplaying the issue.

"Any time a case doesn't proceed because of a delay is of concern," Mike de Jong said. "That's why we're working with the judiciary to try to ensure that the resources are there for the timely dispensation of justice."

Even with a new judge on the way in Cranbrook, lawyers say there will still be fewer judges than there were a decade ago, and the problem isn't expected to go away.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat