Some conferences implemented the new process this month
Certain conferences in Supreme Court of British Columbia civil and family proceedings have implemented the option for parties to attend via videoconference, BC attorney general Niki Sharma has announced.
Per new directions, videoconferencing will become the default method of court attendance for case planning and judicial management conferences in such proceedings. Parties who opt to attend remotely will receive a Microsoft Teams link prior to their scheduled hearings.
The BC court services branch will support the rollout in line with its efforts to improve court processes’ convenience and efficiency in court services. Some scheduled conferences implemented the new process as of May 4.
“Justice should be accessible no matter where you live. Letting people join routine court matters by video means fewer long drives, fewer days off work and one less reason to scramble for child care. It is a practical step, led by the B.C. Supreme Court, that makes B.C.’s courts work for the realities of people’s lives,” Sharma said in a statement.
Parliamentary secretary for gender equity Jennifer Blatherwick added that in-person court appearances could be expensive, intimidating, and traumatizing for families and individuals.
“The option to attend court by video can reduce fear, as well as avoid unnecessary contact and retraumatization. Expanding virtual access is about reducing barriers and making the justice system more responsive to people's real-life circumstances,” Blatherwick said in a statement.
The shift to videoconferencing will also enable judges and associate judges to hold proceedings in various BC locations. The BC government noted that parties appearing remotely must still act with formality and decorum.
Parties may still apply to attend hearings in person or by phone at the court’s discretion.
According to the BC government, the videoconferencing attendance option is aligned with initiatives upgrading court processes in the province and are complementary to other implemented processes. BC’s virtual counter service also links BC residents with court registry staff by videoconference or phone.
The BC court services branch oversees courtroom administration.
