Page contents
1. All media (accredited and not accredited)
a. Viewing court hearing lists
b. Attending court proceedings
c. Asking to speak in a proceeding
d. Application to access a restricted document or exhibit
e. Application to record, broadcast or televise a proceeding
f. Requesting a comment
2. Accredited media
a. Accreditation process
b. In-person access
c. Remote access
d. Use of electronic devices (texting and recording proceedings)
e. Access to audio recording of proceedings (DARS)
f. Access to court records by secure file transfer service (SFTS)
1. All media (accredited and not accredited)
a. Viewing court hearing lists
Members of the media can view criminal and small claims Provincial Court hearing lists on Court Services Online. There are also hearing lists posted in courthouses.
b. Attending court proceedings
All members of the media may attend proceedings in person at a courthouse.
Members of the media who are not accredited may apply to listen to a remote proceeding by audioconference (usually by telephone or MS Teams audioconference).
For accredited media, information about remote access is below in section 2(c).
c. Asking to speak in a proceeding
If a member of the media wishes to make an application to the presiding judge to, for example, comment upon a discretionary publication ban application, if they are physically present they may stand up in the public seating area of the courtroom and ask the presiding judge to allow them to make an application related to the proceeding. If they are listening to a hearing remotely they can send a message to the court clerk asking to be heard.
d. Application to access a restricted document or exhibit
Media can apply to access a restricted document or exhibit.
Introduction: Link to Application Forms
e. Application to record, broadcast or televise a proceeding
Media seeking to video record, broadcast or televise a court proceeding must apply to do so well in advance of the court hearing. In support of the application, the applicant must submit a written argument addressing the impact of the authorization sought on:
fair trial rights
privacy interests
witnesses in the proceeding
the Court and the administration of justice
any other factors which the applicant considers relevant to the application
Introduction: Link to Application Forms
The judge considering the application may refer to the procedures and requirements in the BC Supreme Court’s Practice Direction Applications for Authorization to Video Record or Broadcast Court Proceedings (PD 48) and make an order or direction about whether any of those procedures or requirements apply.
f. Requesting a comment
Comment on a case: Judges speak through their orders and reasons for judgment. The Chief Judge and judges do not comment on specific cases that are or have been before the Court or may come before it in the future.
Statement about the court: Media can use the online form on the Court's media page to request a statement.
If you would like a statement by the Supreme Court or Government, go to their respective websites.
Media (information, resources, photos)
2. Accredited media
a. Accreditation process
Requests by media to become accredited with the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the Provincial Court of British Columbia can be made by contacting the Accreditation Committee referred to in the Media Accreditation Process administered by the Supreme Court and found on the Supreme Court’s website.
When in courthouses, media who have obtained accreditation are asked to keep their accredited media identification on them at all times and show it if requested by a sheriff or court official.
Accredited media with accredited media identification will have priority in areas designated for the media, unless circumstances relating to issues of safety and/or security do not allow for this.
Media with accreditation should give the sheriff or court clerk as much notice as possible if they plan to use audio recording devices in the courthouse. Information about the limitations on how accredited media can use recordings is set out below.
b. In-person access
Accredited media, like all media as noted above, may attend proceedings in person in a courthouse.
c. Remote access
Accredited media may listen remotely to proceedings that are in person, remote, or hybrid and are open to the public. Contact the applicable court registry in advance for information about how to listen to proceedings.
Court registry contact information
If you send your request on short notice, the registry may not have time to send you the information.
Listening remotely is subject to the following conditions:
Cellphones and devices must be on mute
If using a landline, accredited media must be in a quiet room, so they do not disrupt court
If accredited media do not call in at the set time or if the call is lost, the Court will not disrupt proceedings to connect them
There may be limits on the number of people that can be connected remotely
d. Use of electronic devices (texting and recording proceedings)
Accredited media may use electronic devices to transmit and receive text in a discreet manner that does not interfere with the proceedings.
Accredited media may use electronic devices to audio record a proceeding for the sole purpose of verifying their notes and for no other purpose, subject to the following restrictions:
1) Electronic recording devices:
may only be used when a proceeding is in session
must be turned off when a proceeding is adjourned
must not be left unattended in the courtroom at any time; and
2) Any audio recording must be destroyed once verification of notes is complete
Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms, section 6 (Appendix C)
e. Access to audio recording of proceedings (DARS)
If entitled to access an audio recording of a proceeding (see section “Court Records Access”), accredited media can request access to the audio recording after the hearing by emailing the appropriate court location from an email address listed on the accredited media list. Address the email to the Court Services Branch Justice of the Peace, and include a:
- Completed Undertaking of Accredited Media (ADM864b) form(4), and
- Copy of Accredited Media Identification
For some locations, Court Services Branch email addresses are included on the government’s courthouse locations web page. Otherwise, contact the court registry for the email address.
Accredited media must receive a desk order from a Court Services Justice of the Peace. This order includes conditions that:
- Prohibit sharing, broadcasting, transmitting, or reproducing (including posting online) the recording
- Require the journalist to keep the copy secure
- Require the journalist to return the copy to the registry or destroy it when it is no longer needed
f. Access to court records by secure file transfer service (SFTS)
If entitled to access a court record under this policy (see Court Records Access), accredited media may receive access by SFTS. To do this, they must send an email from an address listed on the accredited media list to the appropriate court registry and include:
Their contact information
Copy of Accredited Media Identification
Enough detail about the requested records to allow Court Services Branch staff to process the request
Court registry contact information
Notes
(4) Please note the statement on the form about when the undertaking may be used.