British Columbia Court of Appeal

Practice Directive (Civil & Criminal)

Title: Chambers Applications by Telephone or Videoconference

Issued: 19 September 2011

Effective: Immediately

Cite as: Chambers Applications by Telephone or Videoconference (Civil & Criminal Practice Directive, 19 September 2011)

From time to time, counsel ask that an application in chambers be heard on the conference telephone or by videoconference.   These have been utilized successfully to minimize expense.  An alternate way of saving the cost of counsel coming to Vancouver is to direct that argument be submitted in writing.

Telephone or videoconference calls are arranged ahead of time; sometimes the lawyers are in one office; sometimes they are in different offices.  The registry court clerk puts the call through from the courtroom.

1. All telephone or videoconference hearings are to be scheduled at the discretion of the judge hearing the matter.

2. The person making the request for a telephone or video conference shall file a written request and all motion material at least 7 days before the matter is scheduled to be heard. The applicant must make it clear in the request why the matter needs to be heard remotely.

3. The judge who will be hearing the matter will review the filed material and decide whether or not the matter is to proceed by telephone or videoconference.

4. If the matter is to proceed by personal appearance in chambers, the applicant will be informed as soon as is possible in order that travel arrangements can be made.

5. The judge will indicate the time that a telephone or videoconference will take place.

6. The scheduler will contact counsel, indicating the decision of the judge on the request for a remote hearing.

_________________________________________

The Honourable Chief Justice Finch

for the Court of Appeal of British Columbia

History:

Replaces the civil Practice Directive titled Chambers Application by Telephone dated 12 December 2005 and the civil and the criminal Practice Notes titled Request for Telephone/Videoconference Hearing - Court of Appeal Chambers (Civil and Criminal Matters) dated May 2006.