OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2025

Beginning January 1, 2026, civil and family long chambers hearings will be booked online using the Court Online Booking System (COBS) in all court locations.

Because demand for newly released lengthy chambers hearing dates exceeds the Court's supply in some locations, parties and counsel currently compete to secure such dates by telephoning Scheduling at their earliest opportunity on a specified day each month. Scheduling then allocates the newly released dates on a "first to call" basis.

The new online booking system will create two booking processes - a 'booking window' process for allocating newly released hearing dates, and an 'on-demand' booking system. Some court locations will use both processes, while others will use only the 'on-demand' booking system.

In specified court locations, including those where demand exceeds supply, parties and counsel will submit their preferred dates during a booking window (1st to the 7th of each month). After the booking window closes, court time will be allocated so that all users have an equitable opportunity to secure dates. Unsuccessful booking requests will be tracked, and priority assigned to the user's next request. The Court will monitor the use of this priority system.

As January 2026 is the first month with online bookings for long chambers hearings, the booking window will be extended to January 1st - 14th, to ensure that all users are aware, and have sufficient time to utilize, the new 'booking window' process.

For more details about this expansion, please see the notice issued by Chief Justice Skolrood. More information about COBS and its expansion is available here.

November 24, 2025
RULES COMMITTEE - REVIEW OF COSTS REGIME FOR CIVIL MATTERS

The Supreme Court Civil and Family Rules Committee, which provides advice and makes recommendations to the Attorney General about proposed amendments to the Rules, is reviewing the civil tariff (Supreme Court Civil Rules, Appendix B: Party and Party Costs) and consulting about proposed reforms. Information about the consultation, and the consultation paper, are available on the Rules Committee's website, here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/about-bcs-justice-system/sc-rules-committee.

November 17, 2025
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS - JUSTICE KOTURBASH, JUSTICE LACHANCE, JUSTICE GIBSON, and JUSTICE SAUNDERS

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointments of the Honourable Justice Gregory W. Koturbash to Kelowna, the Honourable Justice Lorne D. Lachance to New Westminster and the Honourable Justice Julie K. Gibson and the Honourable Kate Saunders to Victoria. For more information about the new appointments, please see the press release issued by the Department of Justice. The Court will hold public welcoming ceremonies for the new justices; details about the dates and locations will be posted on the court's website.

November 10, 2025
CHAMBERS CONSULTATION FEEDBACK

The Court's Civil and Family Chambers Practice Working Group is reviewing the current practices and procedures for chambers, with a view to providing a more timely and efficient chambers process. As part of that review, the Court invited interested members of the bar, litigants, organizations, and the public to comment on the issues they see arising in chambers practice and provide suggestions for improvement.

The Court received over 100 submissions in response to the consultation. A summary of the feedback received is available here. The Court extends its sincere appreciation to all those who participated.

October 21, 2025
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS

There are three judicial clerkship information sessions taking place in early November.

• Nov 3 - Judicial Law Clerk Program Information Session - Indigenous Students (12:45 - 1:45, online, open registration for students at all law schools).
• Nov 4 - Thomson Rivers University Faculty of Law from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm in OM3632 (in-person at TRU, contact career services for further information).
• Nov 6 - Judicial Law Clerk Program Information Session - LGBTQIA2S+ Students (12:45 - 1:45, online, open registration for students at all law schools).

Judges, former law clerks, and legal counsel for the Courts all look forward to meeting students at these sessions and connecting with them about the clerking experience in B.C.

Please email judiciallawclerkprogram@bccourts.ca if you have any further questions about the information sessions or the clerkship programs.

October 9, 2025
AN-20 - SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS DURING THE POSTAL DISRUPTION

Chief Justice Skolrood has issued Administrative Notice 20 - Service of Documents during the Postal Disruption. Administrative Notice 20 provides that parties and counsel appearing in civil and family chambers or at a registrar's hearing must be prepared to address sufficiency of service during the disruption of Canada Post's services. A presider may require evidence of service and may refuse to hear a matter if not satisfied that the opposing party has actual notice of the application or hearing.

October 2, 2025
CPD-11 NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS TO CHALLENGE POTENTIAL JURORS FOR CAUSE

Associate Chief Justice Holmes has issued CPD-11 - Notice of Applications to Challenge Potential Jurors for Cause, which is effective October 6, 2025. CPD-11 sets out the requirements for notice of applications to challenge potential jurors for cause in criminal proceedings. CPD-11 repeals Rule 2(7) of the Criminal Rules of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The related Notice dated July 29, 1999 will no longer apply, and will be removed from the Court's website.

October 2, 2025
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS

This fall the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are hosting in-person and virtual information sessions about the judicial clerkship program. These sessions aim to foster learning and connection between judges, law clerks, and students interested in learning more about the judicial clerkship experience. The following sessions will take place in-person at BC Law Schools:

• University of Victoria Faculty of Law on October 8 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.
• Allard Hall School of Law on October 14 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.
• Thomson Rivers University Faculty of Law on November 4 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Please check with your Career Services Office for more details.

There will also be two sessions that will take place online in early November:

• Indigenous law student communities - November 3 from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm PST.
• LGBTQIA2S+ law student communities - November 6 from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm PST.

Please email judiciallawclerkprogram@bccourts.ca if you have any further questions about the information sessions.

September 30, 2025
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the painful history of residential schools and the continuing intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school system. It is also a time to celebrate the strength and resilience of Indigenous people and communities and to deepen our engagement with the work of reconciliation.

As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada recognized, for reconciliation to become a reality there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgment of the harm inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.

The BC Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Provincial Court recognize reconciliation as an ongoing process that is part of pursuing a justice system that is inclusive and respectful to all. While each level of court performs an independent role within the justice system, all three courts are committed to working towards reconciliation.

With the input of several Indigenous judges, the courts have chosen National Truth and Reconciliation Day as an appropriate date to provide information about their reconciliation efforts. Additional information and updates will be provided on an ongoing basis through the three courts' Annual Reports and other avenues.

In 2024, the Supreme Court struck a Reconciliation Working Group (RWG). The RWG has focused on (1) obtaining input from Indigenous peoples and organizations, the bar and the public on how the Court can advance reconciliation; and (2) judicial education. The Court extends its thanks to everyone who provided feedback. In the coming weeks and months the RWG will be considering the feedback received as the Court develops its next steps in the path towards advancing reconciliation.

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