APRIL - JUNE 2024

June 10, 2024
PUBLICATION BANS, SEALING ORDERS, AND ANONYMIZATION ORDERS - PRACTICE DIRECTIVE UPDATE

The civil and criminal Practice Directive on Publication Bans, Sealing Orders, and Anonymization Orders has been updated to clarify that some publication bans and anonymization orders issued by the court or tribunal below expire or otherwise do not apply to appeal proceedings (e.g. s. 278.9(1) or s. 278.95 of the Criminal Code). In those circumstances, a party must apply to a justice in chambers for a new publication ban or anonymization order in the Court of Appeal.

May 27, 2024
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

The British Columbia Court of Appeal welcomes the appointments of the Honourable Justice Margot L. Fleming and the Honourable Justice Nitya Iyer to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of Yukon. The appointments are effective immediately. For further information, please see the announcement from the Department of Justice.

May 9, 2024
SURVEY - COURT OF APPEAL ACT AND RULES

The Court of Appeal is seeking feedback from all court users on their experience using the Court of Appeal Act and Court of Appeal Rules since it came into force on July 18, 2022. Court users (including but not limited to lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, self-represented litigants, and legal organizations) are encouraged to share their views by completing a brief survey.

Survey: https://forms.gle/5XFUqc8xgYUpe9bt8

May 6, 2024
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ANNE W. MACKENZIE

The Honourable Justice Anne W. MacKenzie retired from the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of Yukon on May 6, 2024. Over the past 34 years, Justice MacKenzie has served as a judge at every level of court in B.C. Throughout her career, she has been a trailblazer, particularly for women in the judiciary. She was the first woman to be appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - inspiring many. The Court of Appeal extends its deepest gratitude for Justice MacKenzie's commitment and humility and wishes her the best for her retirement.

May 3, 2024
NEW AND UPDATED PRACTICE DIRECTIVES

The Chief Justice has issued two new practice directives, effective today. The first is an update to Chambers Applications, a civil and criminal practice directive. The only modification is to introduce the online booking of chambers applications. The second is a new directive, Registrar’s Powers, which gives the Registrar certain additional case management powers under s. 37(2) of the Court of Appeal Act in civil matters.

April 30, 2024
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GREGORY J. FITCH

The Honourable Mr. Justice Gregory J. Fitch retired from the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of Yukon on April 30, 2024. Justice Fitch was appointed to the Court of Appeal on September 1, 2015, after a four-year tenure on the Supreme Court of British Columbia. His remarkable contributions to the jurisprudence of this Court, particularly in the areas of criminal law, are recognized nationally as fair, deliberate and clearly communicated statements of law. On his retirement, the Court of Appeal extends its deepest gratitude for Justice Fitch’s dedication and guidance and wishes him the best for his retirement.