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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
February 20, 2025
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE E. DAVID CROSSIN
The Supreme Court of British Columbia announces that the Honourable Justice E. David Crossin retired from the Supreme Court of British Columbia at Vancouver on February 19, 2025. Justice Crossin was appointed to the Supreme Court on September 29, 2017.
February 14, 2025
WELCOMING CEREMONY - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE LINDSAY R. LEBLANC
A Welcoming Ceremony for The Honourable Justice Lindsay R. LeBlanc will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Courtroom 401 at the Victoria Law Courts at 4:15 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend the Welcoming Ceremony.
February 12, 2025
REVISIONS TO ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE 8 - PRE-HEARING CONFERENCES IN REGISTRARS' MATTERS
Registrar Gaily has updated Administrative Notice 8 - Pre-Hearing Conferences in Registrars' Matters, which sets out the circumstances in which a pre-hearing conference must be held for registrars' matters, how to schedule a pre-hearing conference, and the materials that should be provided in advance of a pre-hearing conference.
February 12, 2025
REVISIONS TO ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE 18 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MICROSOFT TEAMS VIDEO HEARINGS
Chief Justice Skolrood has updated Administrative Notice 18 - General Requirements for Microsoft Teams Video Hearings, which sets out the technical and other requirements for anyone participating in a court hearing by Microsoft Teams Video and also provides information on how members of the media or public can attend such proceedings.
February 7, 2025
WELCOMING CEREMONY - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SCOTT MORISHITA AND THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ELIN SIGURDSON
Welcoming Ceremony for The Honourable Justice Scott Morishita and The Honourable Justice Elin Sigurdson will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, in Courtroom 55 of the Vancouver Law Courts at 4:15 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend the Welcoming Ceremony.
February 6, 2025
NEW PRACTICE DIRECTION - GOWNING POLICY FOR COUNSEL
Chief Justice Skolrood and Associate Chief Justice Holmes have rescinded PD-11 and issued a new practice direction which sets out the court’s direction for when counsel are expected to gown. PD-67 - Gowning Policy for Counsel applies to all appearances, whether in person or virtual. If there are questions about what to wear for appearances where gowning is not required or if you are not counsel, please consult this FAQ.
February 4, 2025
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE NIGEL P. KENT
The Supreme Court of British Columbia announces that the Honourable Justice Nigel P. Kent retired from the Supreme Court of British Columbia at Vancouver on February 3, 2025. Justice Kent was appointed to the Supreme Court on December 17, 2013.
January 24, 2025
PRACTICE DIRECTION 66 - FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS
Please be advised that the Supreme Court is returning to an in-person bidding process for foreclosure proceedings and other matters involving the sale of land. Chief Justice Skolrood has issued Practice Direction 66 - Foreclosure Proceedings, which provides that, in general, in-person attendance is required for foreclosure proceedings and that sealed bids must be collected in the courtroom by 9:45 a.m. on the day of the hearing to be presented to the Court. Practice Direction 66 will come into effect on March 3, 2025 at which time Practice Direction 33 - Telephone Appearances on Foreclosure Applications and Practice Direction 62 - Sealed Bid Process for Foreclosures and Other Matters Involving the Sales of Land will be rescinded.
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.