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Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of British Columbia is the province's superior trial court. The Supreme Court is a court of general and inherent jurisdiction which means that it can hear any type of case, civil or criminal. It hears most appeals from the Provincial Court in civil and criminal cases and appeals from arbitrations. A party may appeal a decision of the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 443, provides for a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, an Associate Chief Justice, and 90 other justices. The legislation also provides for supernumerary judges who sit hearing cases part-time. There are also 15 Supreme Court masters who hear and dispose of a wide variety of applications in chambers. The Supreme Court also has a Registrar who hears assessments relating to bills of costs, reviews lawyers' accounts, settles orders, references of various types and deals with bankruptcy discharge applications.
Announcements
June 11, 2019
WAIVER OR ADJOURNMENT FORM
The Court has issued a Waiver or Adjournment form for use in detention review proceedings under s. 525 of the Criminal Code. Defence counsel may complete and submit the form on behalf of an accused person in relation to whom an application has been made under s. 525. The form provides a paper method for the accused to waive the detention review or to adjourn the scheduling hearing to a later date without appearing in court. The form is available on the website under the heading “Section 525 Detention Review” in the Practice Directions - Criminal section. Please also refer to CPD-4: Interim Procedure for Detention Reviews Under s. 525 of the Criminal Code for information regarding the detention review process.
June 7, 2019
NEW DOMAIN NAME
The Supreme Court has changed its domain name from courts.gov.bc.ca to bccourts.ca. Please update your links.
The Court of Appeal has changed its domain name from courts.gov.bc.ca to bccourts.ca. Please update your links.
June 4, 2019
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Madam Justice Elizabeth McDonald to Vancouver. For more information about Madam Justice McDonald, please see the news release issued by the Department of Justice Canada. A public welcoming ceremony for Madam Justice McDonald will be held on a date to be scheduled, and information about the welcoming ceremony will be posted on the Court’s website once it is available.
May 27, 2019
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GRANT D. BURNYEAT
The Supreme Court of British Columbia announces that the Honourable Mr. Justice Burnyeat retired from the Supreme Court of British Columbia at Vancouver on May 25, 2019. Mr. Justice Burnyeat was appointed to the Supreme Court on December 19, 1996.
May 21, 2019
CPD - 4 - INTERIM PROCEDURE FOR DETENTION REVIEWS UNDER S. 525 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE
Associate Chief Justice Holmes has issued CPD-4, which sets out a general interim procedure for detention reviews under s. 525 of the Criminal Code following the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Myers, 2019 SCC 18. It is expected that this interim practice direction will be updated and replaced as experience develops with s. 525 applications and hearings.