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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
November 15, 2024
POSTAL STRIKE
The BC Supreme Court is aware of the ongoing Canada Post strike and its potential impact on court-related mail. Should you experience any delays or issues, please contact the court registry for assistance.
More details can be found on the contact section of our website.
November 12, 2024
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT - JUSTICE SIGURDSON
The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Justice Elin Sigurdson to Vancouver. For further information, please see the announcement from the Department of Justice.
October 31, 2024
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE JEANNE E. WATCHUK
The Supreme Court of British Columbia announces that the Honourable Madam Justice Jeanne E. Watchuk retired from the Supreme Court of British Columbia at Vancouver on October 30, 2024. Justice Watchuk was appointed to the Supreme Court on October 28, 2010.
October 28, 2024
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT - JUSTICE MORISHITA
The Supreme Court of British Columbia welcomes the appointment of Justice Scott Morishita to Vancouver. The appointment is effective immediately. For further information, please see the announcement from the Department of Justice.
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.
September 9, 2024
AMENDMENTS TO THE SUPREME COURT CIVIL AND FAMILY RULES - RESCISSION OF PRACTICE DIRECTION 1 AND ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE 14 AND ISSUANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE 19
Effective September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court Civil Rules and the Supreme Court Family Rules were amended pursuant to OIC No. 378/2024.
The amendments to Supreme Court Civil Rule 22-2(5) and Supreme Court Family Rule 10-4(5) incorporate a requirement for a commissioner for taking affidavits to print their name or affix their stamp below their signature on the jurat. Accordingly, Practice Direction 1 - Affidavits - Identification of Counsel or Commissioner, has been rescinded. More information about the rescission of Practice Direction 1 is available here.
The changes also incorporate a requirement for the various records and briefs that are filed with or submitted to the Supreme Court to include a cover page. Accordingly, Administrative Notice 14 - Cover Page Requirements has been rescinded and replaced with Administrative Notice 19 - Cover Page Requirements for Written Submissions.
September 9, 2024
RESCISSION OF COVID-19 NOTICE NO. 2 (NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING AFFIDAVITS FOR USE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS)
During the COVID-19 pandemic some accommodations were made for the commissioning of documents recognizing it was not always possible or medically safe for the deponent to physically attend before a commissioner for taking affidavits. In consultation with the Law Society of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal for BC, the Supreme Court of BC and the Provincial Court of BC issued:
- Notice to the Public Regarding Affidavits for Use in Court Proceedings
- COVID-19 Notice No. 2 - Notice to the Public Regarding Affidavits for Use in Court Proceedings
- NP 20 Affidavits for use in Court Proceedings
In July 2024, the Law Society of BC revised section 1 “Affidavits and solemn declarations” of Appendix A of the Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia to set out information and a process related to remote commissioning of affidavits or solemn declarations by a lawyer. Effective September 9, 2024 the Supreme Court Civil Rules and the Supreme Court Family Rules regarding affidavits were amended to provide for the swearing or affirming of affidavits by video. Accordingly, COVID-19 Notice No. 2 has been rescinded.