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.

COVID-19 NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTE: All notices are subject to change. Please refer to the Index for a list of the current notices as well as those that have been rescinded and replaced.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

January 11, 2021
ABBOTSFORD LAW COURTS - CHAMBERS APPLICATIONS OF TWO HOURS OR LESS

The new Supreme Court location in Abbotsford will open on January 18, 2021. The Court will begin hearing chambers applications of two hours or less in Abbotsford the week of February 16, 2021. Please see the attached notice for more information.

 

December 22, 2020
END OF SUSPENSION OF LIMITATION PERIODS

On December 21, 2020 the Provincial Government announced that the suspension of limitation periods is no longer linked to the duration of the state of emergency, and the suspension will end on March 25, 2021. For more information, see the Court’s amended COVID-19 Notice No. 34, here, and Order in Council 655/2020, here.

 

December 21, 2020
SUPREME COURT MASTER APPOINTMENTS

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of Master John Bilawich to Vancouver and Master Kimberley Robertson to New Westminster. For more information about Master Bilawich and Master Robertson, please see the news release issued by the Attorney General of British Columbia. A public welcoming ceremony for Master Bilawich and Master Robertson 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.

 

December 21, 2020
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Mr. Justice Simon R. Coval to Vancouver. For more information about Mr. Justice Coval, please see the news release issued by the Department of Justice Canada. A public welcoming ceremony for Mr. Justice Coval 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.

 

December 16, 2020
PD - 59 - FORMS OF ADDRESS FOR PARTIES AND COUNSEL IN PROCEEDINGS

Please be advised that Practice Direction 59, Forms of Address for Parties and Counsel in Proceedings, has been issued by Chief Justice Hinkson effective December 16, 2020. This practice direction clarifies how parties and/or counsel can advise the Court, other parties, and counsel of their pronouns and form of address.

 

December 14, 2020
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Madam Justice Ardith Walkem to Chilliwack. For more information about Madam Justice Walkem, please see the news release issued by the Department of Justice Canada. A public welcoming ceremony for Madam Justice Walkem 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.



December 1, 2020
ABBOTSFORD LAW COURTS - BOOKING CONFERENCES AND LENGTHY CHAMBERS APPLICATIONS

The Supreme Court will begin sitting at the Abbotsford Law Courts on February 1, 2021. Please see the attached notice for information about booking lengthy chambers applications, judicial case conferences, trial management conferences and case planning conferences in Abbotsford.

 

November 25, 2020
UPDATE: FACE MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA COURTHOUSES

Effective immediately, people attending courthouses in British Columbia are required to wear a face mask or face covering, including in entrances, lobbies, waiting areas, registries, hallways, stairways, restrooms and elevators. In addition, people are required to wear a face mask or face covering in courtrooms unless the presiding judge, justice, master or registrar directs otherwise.

Face masks or face coverings must be worn in a manner that cover a person’s nose and mouth. If you do not have a face mask or face covering, Sheriffs will provide one when you enter the courthouse. While wearing a face mask or face covering can reduce the spread of infection, it does not substitute for physical distancing, which must be maintained whenever possible. The requirement to wear a face mask or face covering does not apply:

  • to a child who is less than twelve years of age,
  • to a person who is unable to wear a face mask or face covering because of (i) a psychological, behavioural or health condition, or (ii) a physical, cognitive or mental impairment,
  • to a person who is unable to put on or remove a face mask or face covering without the assistance of another person,
  • if the face mask or face covering is removed temporarily for the purpose of identifying the person wearing it.

In addition, all people attending courthouses in British Columbia are asked to be familiar with all health and safety protocols and to cooperate in following them in order to protect everyone in courthouses in this province.

Click on the links below for more information regarding procedures when attending proceedings in each court:


Court of Appeal for British Columbia

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Provincial Court of British Columbia



November 19, 2020
JUDICIAL LAW CLERK PROGRAM RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2022 - 2023 TERM

Applications will be accepted to the Judicial Law Clerk Program for the 2022-2023 term starting January 4, 2021. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 18, 2021 at 3:00 pm, with video conference interviews to be scheduled in early February and March, 2021.

Learn more about the Judicial Law Clerk Program including the required qualifications and application process here.

 

November 12, 2020
ABBOTSFORD LAW COURTS - CRIMINAL FIX DATES AND TRIALS

The Supreme Court will begin sitting at the Abbotsford Law Courts on February 1, 2021. Please see the attached notice for information regarding criminal fix-dates and trials for criminal cases originating in Abbotsford Provincial Court, which will ultimately proceed in the Abbotsford Law Courts. Please also see the previous notice issued September 24, 2020 here.


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CURRENT COVID-19 NOTICES

 

November 6, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 27 – IN COURT MEASURES DURING THE PANDEMIC - UPDATED

Chief Justice Hinkson has revised Part IV of COVID-19 Notice No. 27 with respect to the use of masks inside courthouses.

 

October 14, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 42 - CHAMBERS APPLICATION BY TELEPHONE AND MICROSOFT TEAMS

Effective October 14, 2020, the Supreme Court will begin a gradual roll-out to hear chambers applications using Microsoft Teams (“Teams”). Applications in Masters chambers of 2 hours or less scheduled for hearing in Vancouver will be heard by Teams starting on October 26, 2020. For every Teams hearing, a dial-in conferencing number will also be provided so that parties can participate by phone if they are unable to do so by video or if their video connection fails during the hearing.

Until further notice, all applications other than Masters chambers of 2 hours or less in Vancouver will proceed by telephone. Hearing of lengthy chambers applications and applications in Judges chambers and in locations other than Vancouver by Teams will be announced at a later date. Parties are encouraged to check the Court’s website regularly for more information.

For more information, click here.



September 21, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 41 – AMENDMENTS TO THE SUPREME COURT CIVIL RULES - TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF CIVIL JURY TRIALS

Government has amended the Supreme Court Civil Rules to temporarily suspend civil jury trials and the related rules beginning on September 28, 2020 and ending on October 3, 2021. Chief Justice Hinkson had previously suspended civil jury trials until January 1, 2021. For more information, see the Court’s notice about the suspension of civil jury trials, available here, and the order-in-council, available here.

 

July 27, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 40 – RESUMPTION OF TRIAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES – CIVIL AND FAMILY MATTERS

Chief Justice Hinkson has issued COVID-19 Notice 40 to replace COVID-19 Notice 26. Effective July 27, 2020, parties must file and serve trial briefs, trial records and trial certificates in accordance with the Supreme Court Civil Rules and the Supreme Court Family Rules. The timeframes for filing and serving trial briefs, trial records, and trial certificates which were set out in COVID-19 Notice No. 26 no longer apply. The Court’s direction that TMCs proceed by telephone unless the Court otherwise orders continues to apply. For more information, click here. 

 

July 20, 2020
REVISIONS TO COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 14 - APPLICATIONS BY WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

Further revisions have been made to COVID-19 Notice. 14 to clarify that a party may only bring one application by written submissions per file at a time.

 

July 17, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 38 – CRIMINAL JURY TRIALS RESUMING SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

The Supreme Court of British Columbia will resume criminal jury selections and trials on September 8, 2020. For details please click here.

 

July 13, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 37 – NOTICE TO MEDIA REGARDING ACCESS TO COURT PROCEEDINGS

The Supreme Court of British Columbia recognizes the critical importance of the open court principle, including in the exceptional circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With hearings increasing across the province, including by telephone and remote video conference using Microsoft Teams, the Court has taken steps to ensure that the media continue to have options for observing and reporting on court proceedings during this unprecedented time. For more information please click here. 

 

July 10, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 36 – CASE PLANNING CONFERENCES

Effective July 13, 2020, parties may book case planning conferences (CPCs) in accordance with the process set out in the Supreme Court Civil Rules, as modified in this Notice. Unless the court otherwise orders, all CPCs will proceed by telephone until further notice. To view the Notice, click here. 

 

July 7, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 35 – EXPANSION OF COURT OPERATIONS – REMOTE VIDEO CONFERENCE HEARINGS

Effective July 7, in an effort to increase the number of matters that can be heard during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Court will offer the possibility of hearings proceeding by remote video conference (RVC) using Microsoft Teams. Eligibility for RVC hearings will be restricted to those matters that meet the criteria set out in this Notice. RVC hearings are not available for any hearings that involve language interpretation or witnesses, and no part of a trial may be heard by RVC, except in special circumstances by order of the trial judge or case management judge. Booking of RVC hearings is also subject to availability of Court resources, including computer equipment and trained court clerks. Parties must supply their own computer equipment and be fully ready to set up and use Teams on their own, without technical support or trouble-shooting from the Court. For more information, click here.

 

July 7, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 33 - EXPANSION OF COURT OPERATIONS - CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Effective July 13, 2020, all Supreme Court registries will be open for in-person services. For this and other reasons, on July 13, 2020, the request for hearing process for urgent and essential hearings will be discontinued and regular processes will resume except as set out in the notice. For more information click here.

 

June 30, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 32 – RESUMPTION OF FURTHER COURT OPERATIONS – REGISTRAR HEARINGS

Effective June 30, the Court will resume registrar hearings. Most hearings will proceed by telephone unless the Court otherwise orders. Bankruptcy hearings will proceed in person at locations where there is a resident registrar or master, and by telephone at other locations. Until the resumption of in-person services at registries, trustees and parties may file their documents online through CSO and must submit their hearing records in hard copy following the processes set out in the notice. For more information, click here.

 

June 30, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 31 – RESUMPTION OF FURTHER COURT OPERATIONS – SEALED BID PROCEDURES FOR FORECLOSURES AND OTHER MATTERS INVOLVING SALES OF LAND

With the resumption of civil chambers by telephone, foreclosure hearings have also resumed. The process for submitting sealed bids to the Court for foreclosures and other matters involving the sale of land is set out here.

 

June 30, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 30 - CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS - APPLICATIONS UNDER S. 490 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE (FURTHER DETENTION OF THINGS SEIZED)

During the COVID-19 health emergency, the Supreme Court implemented a temporary procedure for s. 490 applications. This updated Notices describes some changes to the procedure. For more details, click here.

 

June 30, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 29 - CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS - COVID PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES (CV PTC)

CV PTCs, which were introduced on May 4, 2020, will continue until further notice for all criminal cases where the trial was adjourned or is at risk of being adjourned because of direct or indirect effects of the public health emergency.  This revised Notice directs that counsel are no longer required to complete and submit the CV PTC form, but are expected to appear at the CV PTC informed and instructed about the case. To view the Notice, click here.

 

May 26, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 24 – FILING OF AFFIDAVITS OF SERVICE AND DELIVERY – CIVIL AND FAMILY MATTERS

Parties not appearing in person before the Court as a result of measures put in place during the public health emergency are required to file their affidavits of service or delivery and may do so by e-filing. For more information, click here.

 

April 21, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 10 - E-FILING AND BANKRUPTCY DESK ORDER APPLICATIONS

On April 21, 2020, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued a Notice to the Profession, Public and Media encouraging the use of e-filing for bankruptcy desk order applications. For more information click here.

 

March 27, 2020
COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 2 - 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



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COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

April 21, 2020
USE OF BASIC BCeID FOR E-FILING

As of April 20, 2020 and for the duration of the suspension of regular operations at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, parties may e-file documents using Basic BCeID. For more information click here.

 

April 21, 2020
CERTIFICATES OF PENDING LITIGATION, CERTIFICATES OF JUDGMENT, AND CERTIFICATES OF COMMENCEMENT OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS

As of April 17, 2020 and for the duration of the suspension of regular operations at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Certificates of Pending Litigation, Certificates of Judgment, and Certificates of Commencement of Proceedings may be transmitted electronically. For more information click here.

 

April 17, 2020
AMENDMENT TO THREE COURTS' POLICY ON USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN COURTROOMS

The Three Courts’ Policy on Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms has been amended to confirm the Policy’s application to court proceedings conducted remotely. The amended Policy may be found here.

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(Announcements Archive)

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