2024

What Robert Bauman thinks about courtrooms of the future, public access to the courts and how COVID and the internet changed the justice system

"An ability to understand English and French at a high level is certainly among the important attributes when considering potential jurists for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada."

B.C.’s justice system will be strengthened by the B.C. Sheriff Service’s (BCSS) comprehensive plan to support sheriffs and make sure people have consistent, safer access to court services.

Internal report cites competition with other higher-paying law enforcement jobs for shortage of officers and figures show a sharp job in court closures or delays as a result

Provincial legislation to reform the Law Society of B.C. will be introduced next spring, instead of this fall, as the government continues to iron out details of a new single legal regulator that promises to make many legal services cheaper and easier to understand for the public.

In 1974, Romilly became the first Black appointee to the B.C. bench

"Hate, violence, disinformation and discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression are contrary to human rights laws and unacceptable. These actions cause harm and fear among our colleagues, clients, friends and families."

As we witness a rise of anti-2SLGBTQI+ activity and rhetoric across Canada, we need to redouble our efforts in the fight for equality, which is far from over. Hate, misinformation and violence targeting Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary and gender diverse persons must never be tolerated.

"In a field made thin by a shortage of bilingual candidates, francophone judges from Alberta and Manitoba have emerged as leading contenders to fill a seat on the Supreme Court of Canada that has been vacant since the resignation of Russell Brown in June."

“Whether it's criminal defence cases, whether it's people who are suing the government, whether they're trying to challenge government decisions, or whether there's an allegation of a breach of someone's Charter rights – it's really critical that lawyers can advocate for their clients without having a concern that their regulator is not independent.”