eNews: Court
The BC Provincial Court announced today that it has published an illustrated guide to the Court and the rule of law to help journalists and the public understand its work.
The Provincial Court of British Columbia is one of a handful of courts in the world to adopt online applications for appointment as a judicial officer. On September 5, 2017, BC’s Judicial Council launched an online application process for all judicial appointments to the Provincial Court - judges, judicial justices, and justices of the peace. The Court no longer accepts paper applications.
The Provincial Court of BC is serous about its commitment to accountability, openness and transparency. Issuing semi-annual Time to Trial Reports is one way it delivers on that commitment. Every six months the Court informs the Attorney General and the public about when it is typically able to offer dates for trials and conferences in Provincial Court locations around the province.
The proliferation of fentanyl has required BC courts to respond in two ways – not just with the usual legal response to a new trend in criminal activity, but on a practical level as well. This eNews describes the approach BC courts have taken in sentencing those who traffic in fentanyl, and in dealing with high potency narcotics exhibits.