The Chief Judge is responsible for the administration of the Court. Its administrative headquarters, called the Office of the Chief Judge or “OCJ”, is located at the Robson Square courthouse in downtown Vancouver.
The Chief Judge and Associate Chief Judges are responsible for judicial and governance administration. Working under their direction, the managers and staff of the OCJ deal with functions including:
• trial scheduling administration
• justice of the peace administration
• judicial resources and business intelligence
• administration of the judicial justice division
• legal counsel advice and research
• educational conference support and assistance
• Judicial Council of BC support and assistance
• court policy development and maintenance
• judgment posting
• facilities support
• finance management
• human resources
• information technology
The Chief Judge is the Court’s spokesperson. Under the direction of the Chief Judge the OCJ is also responsible for engaging with government agencies, media, individuals, and organizations wishing to communicate with the Court.
- Contact the Office of the Chief Judge.
- Media inquiries
The Chief Judge’s responsibility for the assignment of judges and cases is delegated to Regional Administrative Judges in each of the Court’s five regions.
Administrative and legal work is also undertaken by the Court’s Legal Officers, Ms. Caroline Berkey, Ms. Karen Leung, and Mr. Daniel Kozera, and by judges and judicial justices who volunteer to sit on working groups and other committees.
Four standing committees advise the Chief Judge on administrative matters:
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee provides strategic direction and decision-making for the Court on policy and management matters, as well as issues concerning the administrative independence of the Court. Chaired by the Chief Judge, the committee’s other members include:
• the Associate Chief Judges
• the Executive Director of Organizational Services, Mr. Ryan Mahar
• the five Regional Administrative Judges
Judicial Administration Committee
With the same membership as the Governance Committee, the Judicial Administration Committee (JAC) is chaired by an Associate Chief Judge. The JAC provides advice to the Chief Judge on emerging issues in the five judicial regions, policy development, and other administrative matters.
Judicial Justice Administration Committee
The Judicial Justice Administration Committee provides advice to the Chief Judge on administrative issues involving the Judicial Justice Division. The committee is chaired by the Executive Director of Organizational Services. Membership includes:
• an Associate Chief Judge
• the Administrative Judicial Justice of the Traffic Division
• the Administrative Judicial Justice of the Justice Centre
• the Justice of the Peace Administrator
Executive Operations Committee
The Executive Operations Committee consists of:
• the Chief Judge
• the Associate Chief Judges
• the Executive Director of Organizational Services
It meets to support the day-to-day administration of the Court and to ensure that meeting materials for the Judicial Administration Committee and Governance Committee are accurate and complete.
Other Committees
Committees of judges assist the Chief Judge in three areas of law: criminal, family, and civil. Their work includes:
• advising judges about law reform, new procedures, and significant case law
• presenting education programs to judges
• contributing to resources for self represented litigants and lawyers on the Court’s website
Education committees comprised of judges and judicial justices organize and present semi-annual education conferences for both types of judicial officers.