Ontario's attorney general called a review Monday into how large and complex criminal cases are handled in the province.

Chris Bentley said the review will look at how such cases can move more quickly and effectively through the justice system.

But he denied that the announcement was a reaction to charges dropped in a high-profile Toronto drug squad case due to lengthy delays.

"This isn't about any one particular case and it will not address the specifics of any case currently in the system," said Bentley.

Last month, Superior Court Judge Ian Nordheimer stayed charges against six former police officers, saying their charter rights were violated by the eight years it took to bring the charges to trial.

In a scathing criticism, Nordheimer said prosecutors handled the case at a "glacial" pace.

The province is appealing the judge's ruling.

Retired Ontario Superior Court justice Patrick LeSage and University of Toronto law professor Michael Code have been appointed to lead the review into such cases.

NDP justice critic Peter Kormos said while the two men are among the country's finest legal minds, the review fails to address the pressing issue — how the government bungled Canada's most serious police corruption case.

"The avoidance of an inquiry into what happened in the prosecution of those police corruption charges, the avoidance is an effort to whitewash the issue," said Kormos.

Bentley said he expects recommendations from the review to be released sometime this summer.