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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 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
April 25, 2025
CRIMINAL PRACTICE DIRECTION 10 (CPD-10) - LANGUAGE OF THE ACCUSED
Associate Chief Justice Holmes has issued Criminal Practice Direction 10 (CPD-10), which revises the process for ensuring an accused person has been advised of their official language rights under s. 530 of the Criminal Code. Where an accused person has been so advised in the Provincial Court, a new inquiry will generally not be necessary in the Supreme Court. CPD-10 also introduces the option of counsel advising the accused person of their s. 530 rights, completing a form with the accused person, and filing it at the appropriate Supreme Court Registry. A copy of CPD-10 can be found here. The French version can be found here.
April 15, 2025
CRIMINAL PRACTICE DIRECTION 9 (CPD-9) - RESTRICTION ON PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION FROM CONFERENCES IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
Associate Chief Justice Holmes has issued Criminal Practice Direction 9 (CPD-9) which imposes an automatic,
temporary ban on publication of information disclosed during pre-trial or other conferences in criminal proceedings,
except for information about the scheduling of future appearances and the nature of the appearances.
CPD-9 is effective April 16, 2025, and can be found here.
April 4, 2025
WELCOMING CEREMONY - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE RICHARD HEWSON
On Friday, May 16, 2025 the Court will hold a formal ceremony to welcome The Honourable Justice Richard Hewson to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The ceremony will begin at 4:15 p.m., in Courtroom 1 of The Law Courts at Kelowna.
NOTE: Cameras are permitted at this ceremony