One of the recommendations in the Report of the Civil Justice Reform Working Group was to create new Supreme Court Rules. The Civil Rules Drafting Group prepared a Concept Draft of the proposed new rules, which is posted on a supplemental Justice Review Task Force (JRTF) website at www.bcjusticereviewforum.ca/civilrules.
If you’re a justice system professional, you may wish to read this additional information.
Questions and Answers for Justice System Professionals
Chief Justice Donald Brenner and Deputy Attorney General Allan Seckel QC toured the province since December 2006, speaking to Bar Associations, law students, service clubs, and other organizations. They presented the recommendations of the Civil Justice Reform Working Group (CJRWG) and answered questions. The website above was also set up as an on-line forum to receive comments on the draft. Consultations on the Concept Draft were completed at the end of November 2007. The proposed rules have and continue to be reviewed by the Rules Revision Committee.
The consultation process has been very effective in pointing out alternative ways in which to implement the CJRWG’s recommendations. The Civil Rules Drafting Group has prepared a new draft based upon the consultation. The site listed above contains the March 2008 “Work-in-Progress” draft, along with a comparison chart, which shows the major changes that have been made to the November, 2007 draft.
Implementation plans: If the rules are approved by Cabinet, the Ministry of Attorney General will create the court forms, educational materials, etc. necessary for final implementation in January, 2010.
Chief Justice Donald Brenner, Supreme Court of BC (Co-Chair)
Allan Seckel QC, Deputy Attorney General (Co-Chair)
Madam Justice Laura Gerow, Supreme Court of BC
Judge Dennis Schmidt, Provincial Court of BC
Master William McCallum, Rules Revision Committee
Richard Margetts QC, Law Society of BC
Jim Vilvang QC, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch
Helen Pedneault, Assistant Deputy Minister, Court Services Branch
Master Barbara Young, Supreme Court of BC
George Macintosh QC, Member at Large
Carol McEown, Legal Services Society
Craig P Dennis, Member at Large
Click here to access the Working Group's report, entitled, Effective and Affordable Civil Justice. [November 2006]
Click here to access the backgrounder to the report. [November 27, 2006]
The BC Justice Review Task Force was established on the initiative of the Law
Society of BC in March, 2002 and is a joint project of the Law Society, the
Attorney General, the BC Supreme Court, the BC Provincial Court and the BC
Branch of the Canadian Bar Association.
Email your comments to:
civiljustice@bcjusticereview.org
Or write to:
Justice Review Task Force
c/o Law Society of BC
8th Floor, 845 Cambie Street
Vancouver BC V6B 4Z9
October 2004
Civil Justice Reform Working Group
June 9-10 2005
Restructuring Justice Conference
November 27, 2006
Task Force Proposes Fundamental Civil Justice System Reform Backgrounder
September 27, 2004 - Ministry of Attorney General
Task Force Tackles Civil Justice System Reforms
September 27, 2004 - Ministry of Attorney General
Task Force Tackles Civil Justice System Reforms
Civil Justice Reform Working Group
February 2006
Change in Legal Culture: Barriers and New Opportunities
January 18, 2006
Major Themes of Civil Justice Reform
September 29, 2005
Proportionality: A More Effective Tool
June 20, 2005
Is "Defensive Practice" by Lawyers an Obstacle for Access to the Courts?
February 23, 2005
Legal Culture
September 21, 2004
Green Paper: The Foundations of Civil Justice Reform
November 2006
Effective and Affordable Justice Backgrounder
Report of the Civil Justice Reform Working Group to the Justice Review Task Force
October 7, 2004
Civil Justice Reform Working Group
|
