Supreme Court of British Columbia: Difference between revisions
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The '''Supreme Court of British Columbia''' ('''BCSC''') is the [[superior court|superior trial court]] for the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[British Columbia]]. The BCSC hears [[civil law (common law)|civil]] and [[criminal law]] cases as well as appeals from the [[Provincial Court of British Columbia]]. Including supernumerary [[judge]]s, there are presently 108 judges. There are also 13 Supreme Court [[Master (judiciary)|masters]] who hear and dispose of a wide variety of applications in chambers.<ref name="iafd">{{cite web | title = BC Supreme Court "About us" |url =http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/supreme_court/about_the_supreme_court/| accessdate = 2011-07-19 }}</ref> |
The '''Supreme Court of British Columbia''' ('''BCSC''') is the [[superior court|superior trial court]] for the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[British Columbia]]. The BCSC hears [[civil law (common law)|civil]] and [[criminal law]] cases as well as appeals from the [[Provincial Court of British Columbia]]. Including supernumerary [[judge]]s, there are presently 108 judges. There are also 13 Supreme Court [[Master (judiciary)|masters]] who hear and dispose of a wide variety of applications in chambers.<ref name="iafd">{{cite web | title = BC Supreme Court "About us" |url =http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/supreme_court/about_the_supreme_court/| accessdate = 2011-07-19 }}</ref> |
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The court was established in 1869 as the "The Supreme Court of the Mainland of British Columbia" to distinguish it from the "Supreme Court of Vancouver Island". The two courts merged in 1870 under the present name. <ref> {{cite book|title=The Laws of British Columbia: Consisting of the Acts, Ordinances |page= 112}} </ref> |
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==Jurisdiction== |
==Jurisdiction== |
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Revision as of 20:51, 6 October 2015
reliable, independent, third-party sources. (February 2015) ) |
| Supreme Court of British Columbia | |
|---|---|
.svg) Coat of Arms | |
| Location | Cariboo; Kootenay; Nanaimo; Prince Rupert; Vancouver; Victoria; Westminster; and Yale |
| Authorized by | Supreme Court Act, 1996 |
| Number of positions | 102 |
| Website | Supreme Court |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Christopher E. Hinkson |
| Since | November, 2013 |
The Supreme Court of British Columbia (BCSC) is the superior trial court for the province of British Columbia. The BCSC hears civil and criminal law cases as well as appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Including supernumerary judges, there are presently 108 judges. There are also 13 Supreme Court masters who hear and dispose of a wide variety of applications in chambers.[1]
The court was established in 1869 as the "The Supreme Court of the Mainland of British Columbia" to distinguish it from the "Supreme Court of Vancouver Island". The two courts merged in 1870 under the present name. [2]
Jurisdiction
The BCSC is a court of record, having original jurisdiction in all cases, civil and criminal, arising in British Columbia. The BCSC has inherent jurisdiction under the Constitution of Canada in addition to any jurisdiction granted to it by federal or provincial statute.
The BCSC has jurisdiction in any civil dispute, including those matters where the dollar amount involved is within the jurisdiction of the
The BCSC also hears appeals from the Provincial Court and some administrative tribunals. Appeals to its own judgments are heard by the
The BCSC is also responsible for call ceremonies for admitting
Justices and masters
All justices of the BCSC (including the position of
It is court protocol to refer to BCSC judges as "justices", and in court to address to justices as “My Lord” or “My Lady," unlike in the Provincial Court (and the now-abolished County Court) where the term “judge” is used and the mode of address is (and was) "Your Honour."
Masters are appointed by the provincial
Judicial districts
The BCSC sits in eight judicial districts called "
The judicial districts are: Cariboo; Kootenay; Nanaimo; Prince Rupert; Vancouver; Victoria; Westminster; and Yale. The Counties of Vancouver and Westminster are collectively one judicial district under the name of the "Vancouver Westminster Judicial District".[5] Within each county, or judicial district, justices are resident in the following locations: Chilliwack; Cranbrook; Kamloops; Kelowna; Nanaimo; Nelson; New Westminster; Prince George; Prince Rupert; Victoria; and Vancouver. The BCSC also holds sittings in the following court locations for which there is not a resident justice: Campbell River; Courtenay; Dawson Creek; Duncan; Fort Nelson; Fort St. John; Golden; Penticton; Port Alberni; Powell River; Quesnel; Revelstoke, Rossland; Salmon Arm; Smithers; Terrace; Vernon; and Williams Lake.
Chief Justices of the Supreme Court
Prior to 1909, when the British Columbia Court of Appeal was established, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was considered the Chief Justice of British Columbia.
- 2013–present Christopher E. Hinkson
- 2009–2013 Robert James Bauman
- 2000–2009 Donald Ian Brenner
- 1996–2000 Bryan Williams
- 1989–1996 William A. Esson
- 1988–1989 Beverley McLachlin
- 1979–1988 Allan McEachern (afterwards Chief Justice of BC Court of Appeal, 1988)
- 1973–1979 Nathaniel Nemetz (afterwards Chief Justice of BC Court of Appeal, 1979)
- 1963-1973 John Owen Wilson
- 1955–1963 Sherwood Lett (afterwards Chief Justice of BC Court of Appeal, 1963)
- 1942–?1955 Wendell Burpee Farris (died 1955)
- 1929–1942 Aulay MacAulay Morrison
- 1902–1929 Gordon Hunter
- 1898–1902 Angus John McColl
- 1895–1898 Theodore Davie
- 1869–1894 Matthew Baillie Begbie
References
- ^ "BC Supreme Court "About us"". Retrieved 2011-07-19.
- ^ The Laws of British Columbia: Consisting of the Acts, Ordinances. p. 112.
- ^ Call and Admission to the Bar
- ^ Information on Becoming aBC Notary Public
- ^ British Columbia Supreme Court Act.