Lisa Driscoll, who stole other people’s nursing credentials to obtain jobs in Newfoundland, first pleaded guilty on May 12, 2025. Since then she has asked the court to postpone her sentencing six times, citing illness or hospital visits.

At the most recent hearing, Judge Bruce Short had ordered Driscoll to appear in person. When she failed to show, Short was not in the courtroom; Judge Paul Noble stepped in to preside in his place.

Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock responded by requesting an arrest warrant, arguing that only custody would guarantee Driscoll’s attendance. Judge Noble refused the warrant but issued an order that she must be present in person at the next hearing scheduled for Oct 7.

Badcock reminded the court that Driscoll’s pattern of claiming medical emergencies has become routine, and that previous warnings from Short warned her that further delays would not be tolerated. The judge’s decision to keep the case open without a warrant shows the court’s effort to balance the defendant’s rights with the need for a timely resolution.

The saga illustrates how procedural loopholes—such as repeatedly citing health issues—can be used to stall sentencing, and why judges may grant adjournments while still signalling that the next appearance will be the last chance before a verdict is imposed.