The Legal System & Courts

While laws are created by the elected politicians, it is the judges and lawyers in courtrooms who uphold the laws. They form the judicial element and work in the courthouse. In Canada, laws are created at the federal, provincial and local levels. 

The Courts of British Columbia, now comprised of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court of BC and the BC Court of Appeal, were located in Victoria and operated at what is now 28 Bastion Square for almost 75 years. One of the most famous judges to preside in this court was Judge Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie.  The original court building is now the home of the Maritime Museum of BC.  If you visit the museum, you can visit the courtroom which once served as both the Supreme Court of BC and the Vice-Admiralty Court for maritime legal matters. Today, the room has been restored to its former glory and offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore one of the few remaining historic courtrooms in the country. www.mmbc.bc.ca/.  
The Courts of British Columbia have since moved to Vancouver. To learn more about them, check out their website at:  www.courts.gov.bc.ca/.

To learn more about the Supreme Court of Canada, visit www.scc-csc.gc.ca/.