The Judicial Council of BC has invited lawyers to apply for appointment as a part-time Justice of the Peace Adjudicator. “JP Adjudicators” are Provincial Court judicial officers whose work is important, but you might not know what they do. 

They play a specific role in the work of the Court. Their primary responsibility is to conduct one-hour simplified trials for civil law cases with a monetary value of $5001 to $10,000 in the Richmond and Vancouver Robson Square courthouses. 

These trials are currently held during a weekday in Richmond and in the evening in Vancouver. Each JP Adjudicator may sit a few times a month, although the number of days they work will vary. 

Simplified trials

Simplified trials are designed to streamline court procedures for cases with a lower dollar value. 

They begin like any other small claims court case. However, after the defendant files a Reply in a case involving less than $10,001 in Vancouver and Richmond, the court registry schedules a simplified trial rather than a settlement conference. The parties then complete, file and serve trial statement forms including:

• A statement of facts in date order 
• A calculation of the amount claimed
• Copies of relevant documents
• A list of witnesses, with a brief summary of what each witness will say

Four or five one-hour trials are usually scheduled for each sitting. JP Adjudicators get their trial list a week in advance. They read the pleadings and trial statement forms and identify issues before the trial date, so they’re prepared to conduct each trial fairly and efficiently. 

When a trial begins, the adjudicator will swear or affirm the parties. They may adjust procedure to suit the needs of the parties and the case, but generally each party will have a chance to state relevant facts, file documents and respond to the other party. The JP Adjudicator may ask questions and may allow witnesses, cross-examination, and submissions. 

In most cases, adjudicators deliver their decision orally at the end of the trial. If not, the law requires them to provide a decision within 30 days. The JP Adjudicators’ thorough preparation is crucial to their ability to conduct a fair trial efficiently and deliver reasons for judgment immediately or after standing down briefly. 

Begun in 2008, simplified trials enable people to file their documents, have their “day in court” within a reasonable time, and in most cases leave the courthouse with a judgment. The experienced lawyers who have served as JP Adjudicators have shared a commitment to improving access to justice through their work in the Court. 

JP Adjudicator Marina Pratchett is a litigator and mediator who practices construction and engineering law. Appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2000, she has served as a JP Adjudicator since 2008. 

Reflecting on the work she has done for 17 years, she says, “The Simplified Trial process began as an experiment to enhance timely access to justice in a cost effective and proportionately appropriate manner in the Provincial Court. Over the years, this process has proven out, and it is rewarding to be part of that solution.  Although the monetary value of the claims is limited, the issues are always interesting and clearly important to the parties involved.” 

Qualifications

Lawyers with at least five years of practice experience in BC and civil law litigation experience are eligible to apply. Applicants should have demonstrated ability to deal effectively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds in stressful adversarial situations. Experience as a mediator, arbitrator or other professional decision-maker is also helpful. Professional references and a criminal record check are required. 

Core abilities and skills (Appendix A)

“The JP Adjudicators who have been involved in this process have the following in common: they enjoy the law, the practical application of the law, and people.”

                                              JP Adjudicator Marina Pratchett

Application process

The Judicial Council will interview short-listed applicants and recommend those approved to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for appointment at any time up to three years after the interview.  

Appointments will be on a part-time basis under the Provincial Court Act. JP Adjudicators will receive the per diem payment set for Judicial Justices by the Judicial Compensation Commission under the Judicial Compensation Act.

Applications will be accepted until March 28, 2025. For more information see:

Call for Applications for Appointment as a JP Adjudicator – apply by March 28