JANUARY - MARCH 2026

March 31, 2026
EXPANSION OF VIRTUAL HEARINGS IN CIVIL AND FAMILY PROCEEDINGS

The Court is expanding access to virtual hearings and video appearances in civil and family proceedings. This is part of a larger strategy to modernize the civil justice system, make efficient use of judicial resources and improve affordability and increase access to justice. These reforms are also responsive to feedback gathered through the Court's chambers consultation. Chief Justice Skolrood has issued four practice directions relating to virtual hearings and video appearances.

Practice Direction 71 - Manner of Attendance for Case Planning Conferences and Judicial Management Conferences provides that effective May 4, 2026, the default manner of attendance at CPCs and JMCs is by video. Parties and counsel who have a CPC or JMC scheduled after May 4, 2026 will appear by video and must contact Supreme Court Scheduling to provide an email address. A party who would like to change the manner of attendance can seek the court's permission by filing a requisition.

Practice Direction 72 - Electronic Application Records (Associate Judges Chambers Pilot Project) and Practice Direction 73 - Virtual Chambers (Associate Judges Chamber Pilot Project) have been issued and replace Practice Direction 68 - Associate Judges Chambers Project.

Practice Direction 73 expands access to virtual chambers to include New Westminster. Under Practice Direction 73, parties may schedule short applications (30 minutes or less) before an associate judge in virtual chambers, except in proceedings filed in the Vancouver Registry. For proceedings in the New Westminster registry, applications may be heard in virtual chambers beginning on June 1, 2026.

A list of virtual chambers hearing dates is available here.

Practice Direction 66 - Foreclosure Proceedings has been updated to clarify that applications in foreclosure proceedings, except applications for approval of sale, may be scheduled in virtual chambers in accordance with Practice Direction 73.

Practice Direction 74 - Remote Attendance at Applications, Trial Management Conferences and Hearings and Pre-Hearing Conferences before the Registrar sets out factors the court will consider when determining an application for remote attendance. Practice Direction 74 requires parties and counsel who wish to appear remotely to provide the court with sufficient information to determine the request.

March 31, 2026
BC SUPREME COURT ANNUAL REPORT 2025

The Annual Report of the Supreme Court of British Columbia covering the activities of the Court for 2025 is now available.

March 27, 2026
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS - JUSTICE JAHANI, JUSTICE MCQUEEN, JUSTICE KLEIN, and JUSTICE GREENBERG

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointments of the Honourable Justice Delaram Jahani, the Honourable Justice Jacqueline G. McQueen, the Honourable Justice Michael P. Klein, K.C., and the Honourable Justice Brook J. Greenberg, K.C. to Vancouver. 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.

February 17, 2026
PD-70 - Hearings and Pre-hearing Conferences before the Registrar

Chief Justice Skolrood has issued PD-70 - Hearings and Pre-hearing Conferences before the Registrar, which describes requirements for scheduling hearings and pre-hearing conferences before the registrar and sets timelines for filing related appointments. It also sets out the material that must be provided in advance of a registrar's hearing and a pre-hearing conference. With respect to hearings before the registrar, it provides that failure to file a hearing record in accordance with the timelines in the Supreme Court Civil Rules or the Supreme Court Family Rules will result in the matter being removed from the hearing list.

February 10, 2026
Welcoming Ceremony - Justice Lachance - March 23, 2026

The Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a Welcoming Ceremony for the Honourable Justice Lachance on March 23, 2026 at the New Westminster Law Courts in Courtroom 207 at 4:15 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

February 10, 2026
Welcoming Ceremony - Justice Gibson and Justice K. Saunders - March 9, 2026

The Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a Welcoming Ceremony for the Honourable Justice Gibson and the Honourable Justice K. Saunders on March 9, 2026 at the Victoria Law Courts in Courtroom 401 at 4:15 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

February 9, 2026
Welcoming Ceremony - Associate Judge Peck - February 9, 2026

The Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a Welcoming Ceremony for the Honourable Associate Judge Peck on February 9, 2026 at the Vancouver Law Courts in Courtroom 53 at 4:15 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

February 3, 2026
COURT OPERATIONS - 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP - February 2026 Update

Chief Justice Skolrood has announced an expansion of proceedings that the Supreme Court will schedule during the 2026 FIFA World Cup at court locations in the Lower Mainland. The full notice is available here.

January 26, 2026
NOTICE TO PROFESSION RE: ASSIGNMENT OF s. 551.1 CASE MANAGEMENT JUDGES FOR CRIMINAL PRE-TRIAL APPLICATIONS AND VOIR DIRES

A Notice has been issued regarding the assignment of case management judges in criminal proceedings. Please review the Notice on the Criminal Practice Directions page, or by clicking here.

January 19, 2026
RESCISSION OF FAMILY PRACTICE DIRECTION 10 (STANDARD DIRECTIONS FOR APPEALS FROM PROVINCIAL COURT - FAMILY LAW ACT)

A number of amendments to the Supreme Court Family Rules and Supreme Court Civil Rules take effect on January 19, 2026 pursuant to OIC No. 432-2025.

Please be advised that Chief Justice Skolrood has rescinded Family Practice Direction 10, which provided standard directions governing the conduct of an appeal under section 233 of the Family Law Act. Directions respecting such an appeal are now incorporated into Rule 1 8-3 of the Supreme Court Family Rules. For more information, please see the attached notice.

January 5, 2026
JUDICIAL LAW CLERK PROGRAM RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2027-2028 CLERKSHIP TERM

Applications will be accepted to the Judicial Law Clerk Program for the 2027- 2028 clerkship term starting January 5, 2026. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Video conference interviews with legal counsel will be scheduled in early February and final interviews with judges will be scheduled March 2 to March 4 (Court of Appeal) and March 9 to March 13 (Supreme Court). Learn more about the Judicial Law Clerk Program including the required qualifications and application process here.

The job posting for Judicial Law Clerk applications is available here.

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