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The Court of Appeal is the highest court in the province. It hears appeals from the Supreme Court, from the Provincial Court on some criminal matters, and reviews and appeals from some administrative boards and tribunals.
The Court of Appeal is constituted by the Court of Appeal Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 77. The Court of Appeal Act provides for a Chief Justice and 14 other justices, as well as for supernumerary justices. Thus, the Court of Appeal actually has more than 15 judges. The Chief Justice of British Columbia heads the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal has a registrar who, in addition to other administrative duties, hears matters related to the settling of orders and bills of costs.
COVID-19 NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Overview of Changes & Access to Proceedings (PDF, 216 KB)
- How to file materials
- Instructions for Video Conferencing (Zoom)
- Request to Appear Remotely (fillable PDF, 3 MB)
- COVID-19 - Overview of the Appeal Process - Flowchart (PDF, 870 KB)
- History of COVID-19 Notices
ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 25, 2022
NEW COURT OF APPEAL ACT AND RULES - EFFECTIVE JULY 18, 2022
On July 18, 2022 the Court of Appeal Act, S.B.C. 2021, c. 6 will be brought into force and the existing Court of Appeal Rules will be repealed and replaced with the Court of Appeal Rules issued by Order in Council 271. For more information see the Ministry of Attorney General’s announcement.
Leading up to July 18th resources and information regarding the transition to the new Act and Rules will be shared via this announcements page and via the BC Court of Appeal’s twitter account.
April 22, 2022
COURT OF APPEAL CLOSURE - SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
The Court of Appeal will be closed on September 30, 2022 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
April 22, 2022
COURT OF APPEAL CLOSURE - SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
The Court of Appeal will be closed on September 30, 2022 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
April 20, 2022
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
The British Columbia Court of Appeal welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Justice Karen Horsman, a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of Yukon. The appointment is effective immediately. For further information, please see the announcement from the Department of Justice.
April 5, 2022
CHANGES TO PANDEMIC-RELATED MEASURES IN COURTHOUSES AND COURTROOMS
Effective April 11, 2022, the Chief Justice of British Columbia has directed the following changes to pandemic-related measures in courthouses and courtrooms:
- Sheriffs will no longer conduct a health screening for people entering a courthouse.
- In the public areas of the courthouse, wearing face masks will be a matter of personal choice.
- In a courtroom, wearing (or not) of face masks is subject to the direction of the presiding judge or registrar. A supply of face masks will be made available in the courthouses and courtrooms.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in the courtroom and plexiglass barriers remain in place.
- Capacity limits in courthouses and courtrooms are lifted.
- Parties, counsel, and other courtroom participants may not bring their own water into the courtroom. Water will be supplied.
- Physical distancing requirements will be removed.
The Notice Regarding Modified Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic incorporates this direction and replaces the Notice Regarding Modified Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic dated February 9, 2022.
February 9, 2022
IN-PERSON OR HYBRID REMOTE/IN-PERSON HEARINGS
Effective February 14, 2022, the Chief Justice of British Columbia has directed that all appeal hearings and chambers proceedings will take place in person in the courtroom, unless individual parties apply or elect to appear remotely. As was the case prior to December 20, 2021, parties will need to request permission to appear remotely for appeals and may elect to appear remotely for chambers. All remote appearances will be on the Zoom platform.
The Notice Regarding Court of Appeal Procedures and Access to Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Notice to the Public Regarding Appearing by Video have been updated to incorporate this direction. Counsel and litigants who wish to appear by video must complete and submit the Request to Appear Remotely Form at least ten (10) business days before the appeal hearing. For chambers hearings counsel or litigants who wish to appear by video must submit the Request to Appear Remotely together with the notice of motion, or, in the case of a responding party, together with any response to the application, at least two (2) business days before the chambers proceeding takes place.
December 16, 2021
UPDATE: CHANGES TO FILING DIRECTIONS
The Court’s filing directions have changed in an updated Notice Regarding Modified Filing Directions in Civil and Criminal Appeals. Major changes in this notice include: the elimination of mandatory condensed books (which are still encouraged in larger appeals), changes to the timelines for the filing of paper copies of appeal records, factums, and statements after e-filing (now two weeks), changes to permitted filing methods including the reduction of the use of facsimile, and revised explanations on how to properly page number documents.