OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

December 21, 2020
SUPREME COURT MASTER APPOINTMENTS

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of Master John Bilawich to Vancouver and Master Kimberley Robertson to New Westminster. For more information about Master Bilawich and Master Robertson, please see the news release issued by the Attorney General of British Columbia. A public welcoming ceremony for Master Bilawich and Master Robertson will be held on a date to be scheduled, and information about the welcoming ceremony will be posted on the Court’s website once it is available.

December 21, 2020
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Mr. Justice Simon R. Coval to Vancouver. For more information about Mr. Justice Coval, please see the news release issued by the Department of Justice Canada. A public welcoming ceremony for Mr. Justice Coval will be held on a date to be scheduled, and information about the welcoming ceremony will be posted on the Court’s website once it is available.

December 16, 2020
PD - 59 - FORMS OF ADDRESS FOR PARTIES AND COUNSEL IN PROCEEDINGS

Please be advised that Practice Direction 59, Forms of Address for Parties and Counsel in Proceedings, has been issued by Chief Justice Hinkson effective December 16, 2020. This practice direction clarifies how parties and/or counsel can advise the Court, other parties, and counsel of their pronouns and form of address.

December 14, 2020
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT

The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Madam Justice Ardith Walkem to Chilliwack. For more information about Madam Justice Walkem, please see the news release issued by the Department of Justice Canada. A public welcoming ceremony for Madam Justice Walkem will be held on a date to be scheduled, and information about the welcoming ceremony will be posted on the Court’s website once it is available.

December 1, 2020
ABBOTSFORD LAW COURTS - BOOKING CONFERENCES AND LENGTHY CHAMBERS APPLICATIONS

The Supreme Court will begin sitting at the Abbotsford Law Courts on February 1, 2021. Please see the attached notice for information about booking lengthy chambers applications, judicial case conferences, trial management conferences and case planning conferences in Abbotsford.

November 25, 2020
UPDATE: FACE MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA COURTHOUSES

Effective immediately, people attending courthouses in British Columbia are required to wear a face mask or face covering, including in entrances, lobbies, waiting areas, registries, hallways, stairways, restrooms and elevators. In addition, people are required to wear a face mask or face covering in courtrooms unless the presiding judge, justice, master or registrar directs otherwise.

Face masks or face coverings must be worn in a manner that cover a person’s nose and mouth. If you do not have a face mask or face covering, Sheriffs will provide one when you enter the courthouse. While wearing a face mask or face covering can reduce the spread of infection, it does not substitute for physical distancing, which must be maintained whenever possible. The requirement to wear a face mask or face covering does not apply:

• to a child who is less than twelve years of age,
• to a person who is unable to wear a face mask or face covering because of (i) a psychological, behavioural or health condition, or (ii) a physical, cognitive or mental impairment,
• to a person who is unable to put on or remove a face mask or face covering without the assistance of another person,
• if the face mask or face covering is removed temporarily for the purpose of identifying the person wearing it.

In addition, all people attending courthouses in British Columbia are asked to be familiar with all health and safety protocols and to cooperate in following them in order to protect everyone in courthouses in this province.

Click on the links below for more information regarding procedures when attending proceedings in each court:

Court of Appeal for British Columbia

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Provincial Court of British Columbia

November 19, 2020
JUDICIAL LAW CLERK PROGRAM RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2022 - 2023 TERM

Applications will be accepted to the Judicial Law Clerk Program for the 2022-2023 term starting January 4, 2021. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 18, 2021 at 3:00 pm, with video conference interviews to be scheduled in early February and March, 2021.

Learn more about the Judicial Law Clerk Program including the required qualifications and application process here.

November 12, 2020
ABBOTSFORD LAW COURTS - CRIMINAL FIX DATES AND TRIALS

The Supreme Court will begin sitting at the Abbotsford Law Courts on February 1, 2021. Please see the attached notice for information regarding criminal fix-dates and trials for criminal cases originating in Abbotsford Provincial Court, which will ultimately proceed in the Abbotsford Law Courts. Please also see the previous notice issued September 24, 2020 here.

October 28, 2020
U.S.A. v. MENG EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS - ARRANGEMENTS OF PUBLIC AND MEDIA ACCESS

The proceedings in the USA v. Meng, VA 27761 will resume on Monday, October 26, 2020 at the Vancouver Law Courts. As a result of COVID-19 and requirements to adhere to public health guidelines regarding physical distancing and to safeguard public health and safety, the following arrangements have been made with respect to the access of the general public and the media to the proceedings:

• The proceedings will take place in Courtroom 55 and will begin at 10 a.m.
  
  
• In Courtroom 55, 5 seats will be set aside for members of the general public and 5 seats will be set aside for accredited media. These seats will be available on a first come first served basis.
  
  
• An overflow space will be also available where the proceedings from Courtroom 55 will be viewable on closed circuit television. In the overflow space, 14 seats will be set aside for members of the general public and 13 seats will set aside for accredited media. These seats will be available on a first come first served basis.
  
  
• Members of the public or accredited media who would like to observe the proceedings either from Courtroom 55 or the overflow space must enter the courthouse at the Nelson Street entrance. There will be a line-up for those coming to the courthouse to attend or observe the Meng proceedings and a separate line-up for those attending the courthouse for other proceedings.
  
  
• The courthouse will open at 8:30 a.m. The Sheriffs will conduct a verbal COVID-19 screening process for everyone entering the courthouse. They will direct members of the public and the media wishing to Courtroom 55 or to the overflow room once the capacity of Courtroom 55 is reached.
  
  
• Members of the public and the media are asked to review the Court’s directions regarding In Court Measures During the Pandemic and the information provided by the Ministry of Attorney General with respect to general expectations for those attending a courthouse during the pandemic.
  
  
• The Court's Policy on Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms applies to Courtroom 55 and to the overflow space. The Policy prohibits the taking photographs (including screen shots), video images, or audio recordings of any court proceedings.  Please refer to the policy for details on permitted audio recording for accredited media. Penalties may include prosecution for contempt of court.

Any questions may be directed to the Superior Courts Judiciary Communications Officer at SCJCommunicationsOfficer@BCCourts.ca.

October 28, 2020
RESCISSION OF PRACTICE DIRECTION 54

Chief Justice Hinkson has rescinded Practice Direction 54 - Standard Directions for Appeals from Decisions of Masters, Registrars or Special Referees. For more information, please see the attached notice.

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