British Columbia Court of Appeal


The British Columbia Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was established in 1910 following the 1907 Court of Appeal Act.
The BCCA hears appeals from the Supreme Court of British Columbia and a number of boards and tribunals. The BCCA also hears criminal appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia where the proceedings in that court were by indictment. It will hear summary conviction appeals from the Supreme Court on criminal matters that originated in the Provincial Court. Statute restricts appeals on civil matters from the Provincial Court to the Supreme Court. However, some Provincial Court civil matters may come before the BCCA on very narrow matters having to do with questions of administrative law or other unusual circumstances.
The BCCA consists of 15 justices in addition to 9 of whom are supernumerary. All justices of the BCCA are appointed by the federal government. The central registry for the BCCA is in Vancouver, where the BCCA holds most of its sittings. The BCCA also occasionally hears cases in Victoria, Kelowna, and Kamloops. The judges for the Court also double as judges for the Yukon Court of Appeal. Cases from Yukon are heard in both Vancouver and in Whitehorse.
A full division of the court consists of five justices; however, most cases are heard by a division of three justices. A single justice will preside over matters heard in "chambers", usually Interlocutory matters or applications for leave to appeal.
Unlike in Ontario where a sitting of the Court of Appeal is referred to as a "panel", in the BCCA a sitting of the Court is referred to as a "division".
Counsel appearing in the BCCA are required to "gown". This court dress is identical to that worn in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and consists of a white wing collar with bands, along with a black bar jacket and black gown. Male barristers will generally wear black or striped trousers, with female barristers wearing either trousers or a skirt. Queen's Counsel wear a more elaborate bar jacket as well as a silk gown. Court dress is not required for matters heard in Chambers, wherein standard business dress can be worn by both counsel and the sitting justice.
When the court moved from its previous location, one of the old courtrooms was reconstructed in the present Arthur Erickson designed Vancouver Law Courts. When in session, a division of the court will often preside in this Heritage Courtroom.
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

Supernumerary
NameAppointedNominated byPrior position
Madam Justice Mary V. Newbury ChretienSupreme Court of British Columbia
Fraser & Beatty
Ladner Downs
Madam Justice Elizabeth A. Bennett HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia
Mr. Justice Richard B.T. Goepel November 8, 2013HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia
Mr. Justice David Franklin Tysoe June 22, 2007HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia
Madam Justice Anne W. MacKenzie December 31, 2011HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia
Madam Justice Sunni Stromberg-Stein June 7, 2013HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia
Provincial Court
Mr. Justice S. David Frankel HarperSupreme Court of British Columbia

Chief Justices

The Chief Justice of the BCCA has the rank of Chief Justice of British Columbia,
NameDurationNominated byPrior position
Mr. Justice P.D. LowryJune 30, 2003 - 2018ChretienSupreme Court of British Columbia
Madam Justice Kathryn E. NeilsonMay 9, 2008 - 2016Stephen Harper Supreme Court of British Columbia
Christopher E. Hinkson
Jo-Ann E. Prowse
Catherine Anne Ryan
Lance Finch
M. Anne Rowles
Carol Mahood Huddart
Kenneth C. Mackenzie
Ronald I. Cheffins
Allan D. Thackray
M.F. Southin
Thomas R. Braidwood
William A. Esson
Wallace T. Oppal
John Douglas Lambert
H.A. Hollinrake
Patricia M. Proudfoot
G.S. Cumming
Allan McEachern
D.B. Hinds
D.M.M. Goldie
A. B. Macfarlane
R. J. Gibbs
A.B.B. Carrothers
H.P. Legg
E.E. Hinkson
H.E. Hutcheon
Josiah Wood
Samuel Toy
Beverley McLachlin
Bryan Williams