How Do I Schedule a Judicial Case Conference for Hearing?

A judicial case conference (JCC) is a special type of hearing in the Supreme Court, involving the parties, their lawyers and a judge or master, that is intended to explore the issues in a court proceeding in the hope of finding a way to settle all or part of the proceeding. JCCs are private and held off the record, and while a recording is made of the proceedings, you'll need the judge's permission to listen to the recording at a later date.

JCCs are governed by Rule 7-1. You should read this rule before your JCC, especially the list of the court's powers that appears at Rule 7-1(15).

JCCs can be very helpful, especially if the judge or master is prepared to be pushy with the parties and their lawyers. It is fairly common for proceedings to settle at JCCs, and where a settlement is reached the judge will make a consent order on the spot, at the end of the hearing. If you are married and it seems likely that you'll be able to get the court proceeding wrapped up at the JCC, if you file a court form called a Registrar's Certificate a couple of days before the JCC you may be able to get divorced at the JCC too.

Unlike family case conferences in the Provincial Court, JCCs are mandatory whenever a family law court proceeding has started. Except for a few limited circumstances, a JCC must be heard before the first application is heard. However, you are not limited to this first JCC. You can schedule additional JCCs as you like, within reason.

JCCs are scheduled through the trial coordinator, who will give you a list of dates to choose from. When you have a date that works for everyone, the date is reserved using a special Requisition form that the trial coordinator will supply, and sending a copy of the filed Requisition to the other side.

A lot more information about JCCs is available in the pages on Case Conferences.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by JP Boyd, March 24, 2013.

JP Boyd on Family Law © John-Paul Boyd and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.

Normally referred to as the "Supreme Court of British Columbia," this court hears most of the trials in this province. The Supreme Court is a court of inherent jurisdiction and has no limits on the sorts of claims it can hear or on the sorts of orders it can make. Decisions of the Provincial Court are appealed to the Supreme Court; decisions of the Supreme Court are appealed to the Court of Appeal. See "Court of Appeal," "jurisdiction," "Provincial Court" and "Supreme Court of Canada."

A court established and staffed by the provincial government, which includes Small Claims Court, Youth Court, and Family Court. The Provincial Court is the lowest level of court in British Columbia and is restricted in the sorts of matters it can deal with. It is, however, the most accessible of the two trial courts and no fees are charged to begin or defend a family law proceeding. The Family Court of the Provincial Court cannot deal with the division of family property or any claims under the Divorce Act. See "Divorce Act," "judge" and "jurisdiction."

(1) In law, a court proceeding; a lawsuit; an action; a cause of action; a claim. (2) A historic decision of the court; case law. See "action," "case law, " "court proceeding," and "precedent."

In law, any proceeding before a judicial official to determine questions of law and questions of fact, including the hearing of an application and the hearing of a trial. See "decision."

A person appointed by the federal or provincial government to manage and decide court proceedings in an impartial manner, independent of influence by the parties, the government, or agents of the government. The decisions of a judge are binding upon the parties to the proceeding, subject to appeal.

Since January 2024, these provincially-appointed judicial officials of the BC Supreme Court are now called associate judges. They serve a similar role as justices of the BC Supreme Court, but have limited jurisdiction. Associate judges are usually charged with making interim decisions before final judgment in a court proceeding, and certain decisions after final judgment, including the assessment of lawyers' bills and the settling of bills of cost. See "interim application," "judge" and "jurisdiction."

A legal proceeding in which one party sues another for a specific remedy or relief, also called an "action," a "lawsuit," or a "case." A court proceeding for divorce, for example, is a proceeding in which the claimant sues the respondent for the relief of a divorce order.

A conclusion made by a judge which decides a point of law or a fact in dispute.

In law, (1) the whole of the conduct of a court proceeding, from beginning to end, and the steps in between, may also be used to refer to (2) a specific hearing or trial. See "action."

A resolution of one or more issues in a court proceeding or legal dispute with the agreement of the parties to the proceeding or dispute, usually recorded in a written agreement or in an order that all parties agree the court should make. A court proceeding can be settled at any time before the conclusion of trial. See "action," "consent order," "family law agreements" and "offer."

An order resolving all or part of a court proceeding, on an interim or final basis, that the parties agree the court should make.

A request to the court that it make a specific order, usually on an interim or temporary basis, also called a "chambers application" or a "motion." See also "interim application" and "relief."

The testing of the claims in a court proceeding at a formal hearing before a judge with the jurisdiction to hear the proceeding. The parties present their evidence and arguments to the judge, who then makes a decision resolving the parties' claims against one another that is final and binding on the parties unless successfully appealed. See "action," "appeal," "argument," "claim," "evidence" and "jurisdiction."