Court of Appeal Announcements Archive


The Announcements Archive contains announcements previously listed in the Announcements section on the Court of Appeal main page of this site. If you are unable to located a particular announcement, please contact the Website Coordinator.

JANUARY - PRESENT 2021 (COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENTS)

December 16, 2021
UPDATE: CHANGES TO FILING DIRECTIONS

The Court’s filing directions have changed in an updated Notice Regarding Modified Filing Directions in Civil and Criminal Appeals. Major changes in this notice include: the elimination of mandatory condensed books (which are still encouraged in larger appeals), changes to the timelines for the filing of paper copies of appeal records, factums, and statements after e-filing (now two weeks), changes to permitted filing methods including the reduction of the use of facsimile, and revised explanations on how to properly page number documents. 

June 15, 2021
COURT OF APPEAL SEEKS FEEDBACK ON MODIFIED PROCEDURES WITH COVID-19 PUBLIC SURVEY

The Court of Appeal has launched a public survey to receive feedback on its modified procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Answers to the survey will remain anonymous and will be used internally by the Court to assist in its pandemic recovery strategy. Questions regarding this survey or other feedback in relation to the Court’s COVID-19 response may be directed to the Court’s Communications Officer.

The survey will remain open until July 30, 2021.

April 9, 2021
CRIMINAL E-FILING, ONLINE BOOKING OF APPEALS, UPDATED NOTICES AND COVID-19 LANDING PAGE

Criminal e-filing and online booking of appeals will take effect on April 12, 2021.
1. For e-filing, review the revised Notice Regarding Modified Filing Directions in Civil and Criminal Appeals and note the following changes:

  • Effective Monday, April 12, 2021, criminal e-filing is optional for all. The same formatting and filing requirements apply to criminal e-filings as apply to civil e-filings.
  • Counsel or litigants can now e-file materials for civil or criminal appeals that are sealed or where there are publication bans in place.
  • Directions regarding condensed books have been clarified. The Court prefers to receive full authorities rather than excerpts of authorities in condensed books.
  • Directions regarding bookmarking and page numbering have been clarified, including required bookmarking and bates numbering on documents of 25 pages or less.

2. For online booking of appeals, visit the Court of Appeal scheduling page and note the following changes:

  • Effective Monday, April 12, 2021, appeal dates can be booked online for hearings of one day or less.
  • Further directions are provided in section 5 of the revised Notice Regarding Modified Court of Appeal Procedures Due to COVID-19.

3. The Court of Appeal has made minor amendments to the Notice Regarding Video Conference Proceedings and the Notice Regarding Access to Court Proceedings During COVID-19.

4. The Court of Appeal has changed the layout of its COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTICES landing page to improve access to the relevant Notices and resources related to: (1) Modified Court of Appeal Procedures due to COVID-19; (2) How to File Materials; (3) Instructions for Video Conferencing (Zoom); and Access to Court Proceedings (Media and the Public).

January 22, 2021
COVID-19 OVERVIEW OF THE APPEAL PROCESS

This flowchart provides an overview of the appeal process. Notes have been added to help people understand how the appeal process has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The notes have been updated to reflect changes to the suspension of timelines for existing and new appeals.  

January 21, 2021
PROTOCOL FOR COMMUNICATION AND TESTING RELATED TO COVID-19 IN COURTHOUSES

In light of concerns raised by the BC Courts, counsel and other courthouse users about the need for timely and coordinated communication about COVID-19 testing and exposures in courthouses, the three levels of Court and Court Services Branch met with senior health officials and have created a protocol that is now in effect with these main components: 

  1. A Public Health Guidance document for courthouses that is publicly posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control website:  

    http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID_public_guidance/Guidance_Court_Settings.pdf

  2. The BC Centre for Disease Control has created a webpage where the following type of information will be posted about COVID-19 and courthouses: COVID-19 exposures at courthouses where a medical health officer of public health specialist has determined there is a risk of infection to others; incident investigations, notices and summaries related to potential COVID-19 clusters, outbreaks or group testing; and courthouse site inspections.

  3. Each Regional Health Authority will be responsible for courthouse COVID-19 incident investigations, response and timely communication with the courts, Court Services Branch and where appropriate the public, recognizing that the Health Authorities alone have the information about COVID-19 incidents, cases, exposures, clusters and outbreaks.

  4. If there is to be group testing at a courthouse, notice will be communicated by the Regional Health Authority to those court participants relevant to the investigation.

  5. Targeted access to COVID-19 testing for court participants in relation to anticipated or ongoing court proceedings where, for example, a court participant is experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms and testing is required to determine whether the court proceeding can continue as scheduled.

See the Protocol here.

We thank everyone for their ongoing efforts to support the Courts and the justice system through this extremely challenging time. The Courts are committed to remaining open and accessible, and have taken steps to ensure safety as noted on the following websites:
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