Provincial Court of British Columbia

Provincial Court of British Columbia
Established 1969
Country British Columbia, Canada
Authorized by Provincial Court Act
No. of positions 150
Website Provincial Court
Currently Vacant

The Provincial Court of British Columbia (BC Provincial Court) is a trial level court in British Columbia that hears cases in criminal, civil and family matters.

The Provincial Court is a creation of statute, and as such its jurisdiction is limited to only those matters over which is permitted by statute. It has no inherent jurisdiction, other than to the limited degree in which it may control its own procedures. Its caseload falls into one of four main categories: criminal and youth matters; family matters; small claims matters; and traffic and bylaw matters.

In criminal matters, it is a trial court for all summary conviction offences. For indictable criminal offences, it can be a trial court if an accused person elects to have his or her trial in that court. When an accused charged with an indictable offence elects trial by a superior court (the British Columbia Supreme Court), his preliminary inquiry will be held in the Provincial Court. The court will also deal with bail applications on most criminal charges except murder and a select few other offences. It is also designated as the Youth Justice Court under the Youth Criminal Justice Act of Canada.

In civil matters, the Small Claims division of the court is limited to claims for debt or damages up to $35,000, or where the claimant agrees to abandon his or her claim for any amount in excess of $35,000. The Provincial Court also has limited family law jurisdiction, except for divorce proceedings and the division of matrimonial property. The Supreme Court of British Columbia shares jurisdiction over all matters that may be heard by the Provincial Court, except where exclusive jurisdiction may be conferred by statute on the Provincial Court.

Judges of the Provincial Court are appointed by the provincial cabinet, on recommendation of the Attorney General. In court, judges are referred to as "Your Honour".

All courts in the Province of British Columbia display the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of the United Kingdom, as a symbol of its judiciary .

Current Justices

Office of the Chief Judge
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Chief Justice Vacant
Associate Chief / Acting Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie [1][2]February 2012 (judge)Crown Counsel
Associate Chief Judge Susan Wishart [2]2009 (Judge)
May 15, 2016 (ACJ)		LiberalPrivate practice (criminal) (1999 to 2009)
Judge Nancy Adams[3]March 21, 2017LiberalCrown attorney
Private practice
Fraser Region
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Judge Robert Hamilton (Regional Administrative Judge) [4]
Judge Therese Alexander1996NDPStone and Alexander (civil)
Judge Kimberley Arthur-Leung [5]March 31, 2008Private practice
Judge Dawn Boblin [6]November 6, 2017Liberal
Judge Patricia Bond [1]February 27, 2012LiberalNorth Shore Law LLP
Judge Gregory John Brown[1]February 16, 2012McEachern, Harris and Brown (family and civil)
Judge Richard Browning [7] October 30, 2014 Liberal
Judge Andrea Brownstone[8][9] December 4, 2012 Liberal
Judge Valliammai Chettiar[10] January 24, 2017 Liberal In-House counsel
private practice
Judge Gary Cohen[11]1999NDPprivate practice (family)
Judge Pedro de Couto (Senior Judge)January 2, 1998[12]NDP
Judge Paul Dohm[13] December 2, 2005LiberalCrown Counsel
Judge Shehni Dossa [14]March 10, 2000LiberalHean Wylie & Company
Judge Kathryn Ferriss[15]July 25, 2015Liberallegal aid (family)
Judge Deanne Gaffar [16]December 4, 2015Liberalprivate practice (criminal)
Judge Donald Gardner[13] Nov. 18, 2005Liberalprivate practice (criminal)
Judge Gurmail Gill[17]1994 (Judge)
2009 to 2016 (ACJ)		NDP (Judge)
Liberal (ACJ)
Judge Peder Gulbransen (Senior Judge)
(Abbotsford)		July 18, 2003LiberalCrown Counsel (1982 to 2003)
Bate & Co
Community Law Centre
Judge Robert Gunnell [18]June 27, 2016LiberalFindlay Gunnell Sandor (criminal) (1998 to 2016)
Judge Brent Hoy (Senior Judge)
Judge Delaram Jahani [19]December 12, 2017LiberalBoyd Jahani Barristers (2003 to 2017)
Judge Eugene Jamieson[20]February 24, 2016Liberallegal officer for Office of Chief Provincial Court Judge
Judge Patricia Janzen[1]February 21, 2012LiberalLabour Relations Board
Human Rights Tribunal
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Judge Mark Jette [6]November 10, 2017Liberal
Judge Peter La Prairie
Judge Robin McQuillan [21]August 15, 2016Liberalsole practitioner (family)
Judge Richard Miller (Senior Judge)
Judge Andrea Ormiston[6]November 6, 2017Liberal
Judge Steven Point[22]February 20, 2014BC's Lieutenant Governor (2007 to 2012)
Chief Commissioner of BC Treaty Process (2005 to 2007)
Provincial Court Judge (1999 to 2005)
Point and Shirley Law Firm (1986 and 1989) (criminal)
Judge Deirdre Pothecary (Senior Judge)
Judge Edna Ritchie[23]March 18, 2015Liberal
Judge Jill Rounthwaite (currently sitting part-time)
Judge Kenneth Skilnick
Judge Garth Smith[8][9] December 4, 2012 Liberal
Judge Jay Solomon[15]July 27, 2015LiberalPrivate practice (criminal)
Judge Patricia Stark[24]January 30, 2017LiberalSole practitioner (2002 to 2017)
Crown counsel (1992 to 2002)
Judge Daniel Steinberg
Judge James Sutherland[8][9] December 4, 2012 Liberal
Judge Daniel Weatherly[25]March 24, 2005LiberalPrivate practice (criminal)
Judge Alexander Wolf[16]December 7, 2015LiberalPrivate practice (2004 to 2015)
Crown attorney
Judge Thomas Woods (Senior Judge)
Judge Wendy Young
Interior
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Judge Ellen Burdett (Regional Administrative Judge)
Judge Mariane Ruth Armstrong [26]September 6, 2017 Liberal
Judge Robert Brown [16]December 7, 2015LiberalThompson, LeRose & Brown
Judge Jane Cartwright (Senior Judge)
Judge Christopher Cleaveley
Judge Michelle Daneliuk[27]September 6, 2017LiberalPrivate practice (criminal) (1995 to 2017)
Judge Edmond de Walle (Senior Judge)
Judge Roy Dickey [28]Harrop, Phillips, Powell & Gibbons
Crown Counsel (2009 to 2010)
Judge Lynal Doerksen[29]
Judge Stella Frame[30]December 28, 2006Boughton Law Corporation
Judge Stephen HarrisonJuly 9, 2007Liberal
Judge Cathie Heinrichs [31]
Judge Richard Hewson[32]December 23, 2013LiberalSole practitioner
Davidson & Co
Judge Wilfred Klinger (Senior Judge)[33][18]1979 (Judge) 2009 (Senior)
Judge Gregory Koturbash [1]
Judge Mayland McKimm[4]July 24, 2011
Judge Monica McParland [34]
Judge Dennis Morgan[35]November 5, 2007Legal Services Society (1994 to 2007)
Judge Philip Seagram[36]January 11, 2016Private practice (criminal)
Judge Marguerite Shaw[37]Sept. 24, 2010
Judge Grant Sheard
Judge Mark Takahashi (Senior Judge)
Judge James Threlfall (Senior Judge)
Judge Lisa Wyatt[38]December 30, 2013Liberal
Northern Region
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Judge Michael Brecknell (Regional Administrative Judge)
Judge Elizabeth Bayliff (Senior Judge)[39]November 9, 2001LiberalCrown counsel
Judge Richard Blaskovits[40]November 9, 2001LiberalCrown attorney
Judge Rita Bowry[41]January 25, 2009LiberalSole practitioner (1997 to 2009) (family)
Seyl & Bowry (1995 to 1997)
Gibb and Syal
Judge Brian Daley
Judge Judith Doulis[42][16]December 7, 2015Crown Counsel
Private practice
Judge Victor Galbraith[1]February 13, 2012LiberalBC Crown counsel
Judge Michael Gray (Senior Judge) [43]November 5, 2004LiberalCrown attorney (2000 to 2004)
Legal Services Society (1991 to 2004)
Judge William Jackson[8][9] December 4, 2012 Liberal BC Crown counsel
Judge Shannon Keyes [44]February 20, 2014LiberalCrown counsel (2000 to 2014)
Cobbett and Cotton Barristers (1994 to 2000)
Rubin-Haws and Associates (1993 to 1994)
Judge Cassandra Malfair[45][42]January 9, 2017LiberalCrown counsel (2007 to 2017)
Private practice
Judge Susan Mengering[46]
Judge Herman Seidemann (Senior Judge)[47]November 9, 2001LiberalSilversides, Seidemann & Kucher
Judge Dwight Stewart [48]April 15, 2015LiberalCrown counsel (2012 to 2015)
Judge Calvin Struyk
Judge Karen Whonnock [49]August 8, 2016Liberaljudge of the Colville Tribal Court
Judge Peter Whyte [50]December 12, 2017LiberalCrown attorney 
(2015 to 2017) Lake Whyte LLP
Judge Terence Wright [1]March 1, 2012LiberalWarner Bandstra Brown
Vancouver Region
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Judge James Wingham (Regional Administrative Judge)
Judge Nancy Adams
Judge James Bahen
Judge Laura Bakan[51]March 18, 2015Liberal
Judge Elisabeth Burgess (Senior Judge)
Judge Joanne Challenger
Judge Patrick Chen[14] (Senior Judge)March 10, 2000Chen & Leung (civil)
Judge Bonnie Craig[8][9] December 4, 2012
Judge Kathryn Denhoff[8][9] December 4, 2012
Judge Harbans DhillonMay 3, 1999
Judge Patrick Doherty[52]April 15, 2015
Judge Bryce Dyer (Senior Judge)
Judge Joseph Galati
Judge Maria Giardini[53]October 24, 2006LiberalDavis & Company (1995 to 2006)
Judge Ellen Gordon
Judge Thomas Gove (Senior Judge)
Judge Reginald Harris[54]February 5, 2010LiberalSmart, Harris & Martland (criminal)
Judge Wilson Lee[55]January 14, 2016LiberalPrivate practice
Judge Malcolm MacLean [56]September 5, 2003LiberalDavis and Company
Crown Attorney (1982 to 1984)
Judge Steven Merrick [57]2010LiberalEmployment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
Judge Paul Meyers
Judge John Milne [58]December 20, 2002Buri Milne
Judge Douglas Moss (Senior Judge)
Judge Jennifer Oulton[8][9] December 4, 2012
Judge Nancy Phillips[59]2001Associate Chief Justice (2009 to 2016)
Crown attorney
Private practice
Judge Rose Raven
Judge Gregory Rideout[13]November 18, 2005Private practice
Judge William Rodgers (Senior Judge)
Judge Donna Senniw
Judge Lyndsay Smith [60]Jan. 6, 2014
Judge David St. Pierre[61]March 27, 2009Cobb St. Pierre Lewis (1998 to 2009)
Judge Danny Sudeyko[15]July 25, 2015Private practice (criminal)
Judge Karen Walker[62][14]July 29, 2005Private practice (criminal)
Judge Jodie Werier
Vancouver Island Region
Name Date Appointed Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Judge Carmen Rogers (Regional Administrative Judge)
Judge Jennifer Barrett[18]June 20, 2016Quadra Legal Centre (2007 to 2016)
Judge Evan Blake (Senior Judge)
Judge Adrian Brooks[63]April 1, 2009Private practice (criminal)
Judge Loretta Chaperon (Senior Judge)
Judge Douglas Cowling (Senior Judge)
Judge Catherine Crockett[64]April 20, 2016BC Crown attorney
Public Prosecution Service Canada
Judge Roger Cutler[8][9] December 4, 2012
Judge Peter Doherty (Senior Judge)
Judge Barbara Flewelling [7] October 31, 2014
Judge Ted Gouge [1]February 27, 2012Ministry of Attorney General, Legal Services
Lawson, Lundell, Lawson & McIntosh
Judge Brian Harvey[65]April 20, 2016
Judge Robert Higinbotham
Judge Frances Howard (Senior Judge)
Judge Brian Hutcheson[66]
Judge Ronald Lamperson[8][9] December 4, 2012
Judge Christine Lowe[15]July 27, 2015Crown attorney
Judge Parker MacCarthy[67]October 18, 2010LiberalRamsay Lampman Rhodes
Judge Lisa Mrozinski
(Nelson)[68]		March 17, 2009Ministry of the Attorney General (1991 to 2009)
Judge Justine Saunders
Judge Ronald Webb[69]Aug. 6, 2004Crown attorney (1992 to 2004)

Previous Judges

Name Duration of Appointment Appointed By Prior Position(s)
Marion Buller[70] 1994-2006 Civil and criminal lawyer (1988 – 1994)
Judge Gale Sinclair 1988 to April 1, 2018 [71]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Nine new judges appointed to courtrooms across B.C." Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Court welcomes new Associate Chief Judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Appointment of Judge" (PDF). Provincial Court of British Columbia. March 10, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Five appointed to Provincial Court of B.C." Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "B.C. appoints three provincial court judges". BC Gov News. October 30, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "B.C. appoints two provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "B.C. APPOINTS NEW JUDGES AND ANNOUNCES BACKLOG PROJECTS". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "B.C. appoints new judges and announces backlog projects". Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "udge's appointment makes news around the world". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Gary Cohen". Clicklaw Books. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "Resume of Orders in Council Volume 24, Number 31". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES APPOINTED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "Four Judges Appointed". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "B.C. appoints five provincial court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "B.C. appoints new provincial court judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "Provincial Court salutes outgoing Associate Chief Judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 "B.C. appoints three provincial court judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "B.C. appoints two provincial court judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "B.C. appoints three new provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "B.C. appoints two new provincial court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "B.C. appoints two provincial court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "B.C. appoints two Provincial Court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  26. ↑ "British Columbia appoints five provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "British Columbia appoints five provincial court judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "FIVE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  30. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  31. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "B.C. appoints three provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  33. ↑ "British Columbia appoints five provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  34. ↑ "British Columbia appoints five provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  35. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  36. ↑ "B.C. appoints three new provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  37. ↑ "FIVE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  38. ↑ "B.C. appoints three provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  39. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  40. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  41. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  42. 1 2 "Mother and daughter judges on BC Provincial Court!". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  43. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  44. ↑ "B.C. appoints two provincial court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  45. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  46. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  47. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  48. ↑ "B.C. appoints two Provincial Court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  49. ↑ "B.C. appoints two new provincial court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  50. ↑ "B.C. appoints two provincial court judges". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  51. ↑ "B.C. appoints two Provincial Court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  52. ↑ "B.C. appoints two Provincial Court judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  53. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  54. ↑ "NEW JUDGE ADDED TO PROVINCIAL COURT IN SURREY". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  55. ↑ "B.C. appoints three new provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED IN VANCOUVER". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  57. ↑ "Presenter Profile" (PDF). Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  58. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED IN SMITHERS". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  59. ↑ "Provincial Court salutes outgoing Associate Chief Judges". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  60. ↑ "B.C. appoints three provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  61. ↑ "NEW JUDGE FOR PORT COQUITLAM PROVINCIAL COURT". Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  62. ↑ "FOUR NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES APPOINTED". Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  63. ↑ "TWO PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGES APPOINTED FOR VICTORIA". Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  64. ↑ "Appointment of Three Judges" (PDF). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  65. ↑ "Appointment of Three Judges" (PDF). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  66. ↑ "B.C. appoints seven provincial court judges". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  67. ↑ "FIVE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  68. ↑ "NEW JUDGE ADDED TO PROVINCIAL COURT IN NELSON". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  69. ↑ "NEW PROVINCIAL COURT JUDGE APPOINTED". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  70. ↑ "Honourable Marion Buller". University of Victoria. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  71. ↑ "JUDICIAL RETIREMENT - THE HONOURABLE JUDGE GALE SINCLAIR" (PDF). Retrieved 24 July 2018.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.