JULY - SEPTEMBER 2012

August 30, 2012
PRESS RELEASE - B.C. JUSTICE REFORM INITIATIVE

We have received the reports of Mr. Cowper, Q.C., Mr. McCuaig, Q.C. and the Legal Services Society and, upon our review of these reports, will consider further comment.

August 24, 2012
ACCESS POLICY

The Court has codified its practices on record and courtroom access in a new access policy, available here. Access to Criminal Appeal Files (Criminal Practice Directive, 19 September 2011) has been repealed, as it has been incorporated into the new policy.

August 1, 2012
POLICY ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN COURTROOMS - SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

Effective 17 September 2012, the Policy on Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms, a joint policy of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court will take effect. The Policy on Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms permits accredited journalists and lawyers to use electronic devices to send or receive text in the courtrooms of the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court unless directed otherwise by the court or other judicial officer. In the Court of Appeal, a more permissive policy will be in place which also allows members of the public to use electronic devices to send or receive text. The press release announcing the new policy is attached

July 24, 2012
CRIMINAL PRACTICE NOTE - PUBLICATION BANS

The Court has become increasingly concerned with the accurate reporting of publication bans. This new practice note requires counsel to: 1) accurately describe publication bans on the cover of their factum and 2) reminds counsel to prepare to address the existence and nature of publication bans when appearing before the Court or in Chambers. The directive takes effect on 1 October 2012 to allow counsel time to observe the change. The new Practice Note may be found here.