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 95 other judges. The legislation also provides for supernumerary judges who sit hearing cases part-time. There are also 13 Supreme Court associate judges 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
October 15, 2024
APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable
Justice Ronald A. Skolrood, a Justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, as
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The appointment is effective immediately. For further information,
please see the announcement
from the Prime Minister issued earlier today. The Supreme Court will hold a Welcoming Ceremony for Chief Justice Skolrood at a date to be scheduled.
October 4, 2024
ONLINE BOOKING FOR CIVIL AND FAMILY TRIALS
Beginning on November 1, 2024, parties and counsel will be transitioning to an online booking system for civil and family trials. This is an expansion of the online booking system that was introduced in 2020 for a variety
of civil and family case conferences including case planning conferences, judicial case conferences and trial management conferences. For more details about this expansion, please see the notice issued by Associate Chief Justice Holmes.
October 3, 2024
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:
- UVic Faculty of Law - October 8 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.
- Allard Hall - October 15 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.
- TRU Faculty of Law - November 12 from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm.
Check with your Career Services Office for more details.
There will also be two sessions that will take place online:
- Indigenous law student communities - October 31 from 12:40 pm to 1:20 pm PST. Click here to register.
- LGBTQIA2S+ law student communities - November 4 from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm PST. Click here to register.
Please email judiciallawclerkprogram@bccourts.ca if you have any further questions about this registration.
October 2, 2024
WELCOMING CEREMONY - JUSTICE DION, JUSTICE LAYTON & JUSTICE GOTTARDI
A Welcoming Ceremony for Justice Dion, Justice Layton, and Justice Gottardi will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at the New Westminster Law Courts in Courtroom 207 at 4:15 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend the Welcoming Ceremony.
October 2, 2024
WELCOMING CEREMONY - JUSTICE ORMISTON
A Welcoming Ceremony for Justice Ormiston will be held on Monday, October 28, at the Abbotsford Law Courts in Courtroom 404 at 4:15 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend the Welcoming Ceremony.