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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.
April 6, 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has taken steps to protect the health and safety of court users and staff and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including by suspending regular operations during the outbreak. The Court continues to hear urgent and essential matters and to receive and process filed documents for all of its cases. Courtrooms are open to the public subject to physical/social distancing requirements. For more information about the reasons for the suspension of regular operations, please click here.
April 2, 2020
SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NOTICE - SUSPENSION OF ALL REGULAR COURT OPERATIONS - INSOLVENCY MATTERS
Effective March 19, 2020 and until further notice, the Honourable Chief Justice Hinkson has suspended regular operations of the Supreme Court of British Columbia at all of its locations to protect the health and safety of court users and to help contain the spread of COVID-19. This updated Notice includes some changes to the Court's operations in respect of insolvency proceedings effective April 2, 2020. For more details click here.
March 31, 2020
SUPREME COURT ANNUAL REPORT 2019
The Annual Report of the Supreme Court of British Columbia covering the activities of the Court for 2019 is now available.
March 30, 2020
SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NOTICE - SUSPENSION OF ALL REGULAR COURT OPERATIONS - CIVIL AND FAMILY MATTERS (Revised March 30, 2020)
Effective March 19, 2020 and until further notice, the Honourable Chief Justice Hinkson has suspended regular operations of the Supreme Court of British Columbia at all of its locations to protect the health and safety of court users and to help contain the spread of COVID-19. This updated Notice includes some changes to the Court's operations in respect of civil and family proceedings effective March 30, 2020. For more details click here.
March 30, 2020
SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NOTICE - SUSPENSION OF ALL REGULAR COURT OPERATIONS - CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (Revised March 30, 2020)
Effective March 19, 2020 and until further notice, the Honourable Chief Justice Hinkson has suspended regular operations of the Supreme Court of British Columbia at all of its locations to protect the health and safety of court users and to help contain the spread of COVID-19. This updated Notice includes some changes to the Court's operations in respect of criminal proceedings effective March 30, 2020. For more details click here.
March 30, 2020
APPLICATIONS UNDER S. 490 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE (FURTHER DETENTION OF THINGS SEIZED) DURING THE SUSPENSION OF SUPREME COURT OPERATIONS
During the COVID-19 health emergency, the Supreme Court is implementing new procedures for s. 490 applications. For more details, click here.
March 27, 2020
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING AFFIDAVITS FOR USE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and the Provincial Court of British Columbia will make accommodations for the commissioning of affidavits in circumstances where it is not possible or is medically unsafe for the deponent to attend before a commissioner. All three levels of court will follow the same process, set out in the directives linked below:
Court of Appeal for British Columbia
Supreme Court of British Columbia
Provincial Court of British Columbia
March 27, 2020
SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - CHANGES TO COURTROOM PROCEDURES FOR IN-PERSON COURT APPEARANCES
In order to protect the health and safety of court users, court staff and others and to help limit the spread of COVID-19, new procedures are being implemented for hearings where there counsel, parties, media and the public are attending in person. For more details click here.
March 21, 2020
COURTHOUSE CLOSURES - UPDATED
The Chilliwack Law Courts and the Nanaimo Law Courts will reopen on March 23, 2020.
The Campbell River Law Courts will remain closed until April 6, 2020.
For more information click here.
March 18, 2020
SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - CLOSURE OF COURTHOUSES AND SUSPENSION OF ALL REGULAR COURT OPERATIONS
As part of the Court's efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia has ordered the suspension of all regular operations, effective immediately and until further notice. It is a constitutional imperative that the courts must remain open; however, in light of the extraordinary circumstances during the current public health emergency, members of the public who do not have urgent business before the court are discouraged from attending any courthouse. Any matter scheduled for an appearance today shall proceed unless the presiding judge orders otherwise. All regular hearings scheduled after today are adjourned indefinitely.
Adjustments will be made to accommodate the hearing of urgent matters. Further details concerning urgent and emergency matters and the running of timelines will follow shortly.
March 16, 2020
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS – MR. JUSTICE MATTHEW TAYLOR AND MR. JUSTICE ANDREW MAJAWA
The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Mr. Justice Matthew Taylor to New Westminster and the Honourable Mr. Justice Andrew Majawa to Vancouver. For more information, please see the press release issued by the Department of Justice. Public welcoming ceremonies for Mr. Justice Taylor and Mr. Justice Majawa will be held on a date to be scheduled. Information about the welcoming ceremonies will be posted on the Court’s website.
March 13, 2020
BC COURTS' RESPONSE TO COVID-19
In response to the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia ("Courts") have developed a coordinated approach to manage impacts of the virus on the operations of the Courts. For more details click here.
March 12, 2020
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK (COVID-19)
British Columbia is experiencing an increase in cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is anticipated that the virus will continue to spread. The Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia continue to monitor information and take guidance from public health officials and are taking steps to try to ensure the safety and health of the members of the public who interact with the Court. READ MORE
February 27, 2020
REVISED CPD-4 - PROCEDURE FOR DETENTION REVIEWS UNDER s. 525 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE.
The Honourable Associate Chief Justice Holmes has issued an updated version of CPD-4 (Criminal Practice Direction 4 - Procedure for Detention Reviews Under s. 525 of the Criminal Code), which comes into effect on Monday, March 2, 2020. The practice direction was updated to reflect experience with the process to date and to address amendments to s. 525 of the Code, which came into force on December 18, 2019. CPD-4 and electronic versions of the appended forms are posted on the Court website under “Practice Directions – Criminal”.