Latest news with #Skolrood
Global News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
FIFA 2026 impacts to shutter Lower Mainland courts for nearly a month
When the biggest event in world soccer touches down in Vancouver next year, it will also create a big headache for the province's court system. The chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court is warning that the FIFA 2026 World Cup will have 'very significant impacts' on court operations. 'The important priorities of public safety and traffic and crowd management during the event will draw heavily on police resources in the Lower Mainland and potentially elsewhere in the province,' Justice Ron Skolrood wrote in a recent notice. 4:06 Cost to host 2026 FIFA World Cup keeps going up 'For similar reasons, the BC Sheriff Service may have difficulty providing its usual level of support for court operations, including for the transport to court of accused persons in custody, for jury management, and for courthouse security.' Story continues below advertisement Skolrood added that anticipated traffic disruptions, the unavailability of hotel rooms for witnesses and deliberating juries and uncertain availability of police officers are also expected to affect the courts. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy As a result, the Vancouver, New Westminster, Abbotsford and Chilliwack law courts will be virtually shut down between June 12 and July 8, 2026. 'The Court is committed to ensuring that the Court maintains sufficient capacity to handle urgent matters and emergency hearings during the events and to protecting the safety and security of court participants, court proceedings and courthouses,' the chief justice said. All criminal trials by either judge or jury set for that period will need to be rescheduled, as will any jury selections. Civil jury trials scheduled during the FIFA period will also need to be postponed. 2:08 Provincial, municipal and First Nations governments sign FIFA memorandum of understanding The court will continue to schedule chambers applications during the period, but Skolrood said they could still see disruptions. Story continues below advertisement B.C. Premier David Eby said the World Cup will be the 'largest sporting event ever in the history of our province, and that as during the 2010 Olympics, British Columbians will need to put up with some disruptions. However, he said the province would work with the courts to ensure people's right to a trial is not unduly affected. 'This can be a very sensitive area for disruption; people have a right to a trial in a certain, fixed amount of time — we have to hit those targets. In fact, we are best in Canada for hitting those targets,' Eby said. 'But we have more work to do to ensure every single trial gets to court on time, and we will work with the court to make sure we address any concerns they may have.' Vancouver is scheduled to host seven games during the tournament, starting on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Vancouver Sun
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
All criminal trials in four B.C. courts to be rescheduled during FIFA World Cup
The chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court says all criminal trials that were to take place in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and New Westminster during the FIFA World Cup next year will have to be rescheduled. Chief Justice Ron Skolrood says in a notice posted Monday that the tournament is expected to have 'very significant impacts' on court operations at the affected Supreme Court locations. The notice says neither jury nor judge-only criminal trials will take place at the four locations from June 12 to July 8, 2026, and that no civil jury trials will take place either. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It says the number of non-jury civil trials may also have to be reduced in the lead up to the tournament. The notice cites the draw on police resources around the Lower Mainland, heavy traffic that will make it difficult for sheriffs to transport suspects, and a potential lack of hotel rooms for jurors and out-of-town witnesses. Skolrood says the court is committed to having enough capacity for 'urgent matters,' but the service reductions during the tournament are 'unavoidable.' 'The full extent of the impacts is uncertain and will remain so for some time,' the notice says. 'We do know that the effects on the police and sheriff resources required to participate in or support the court's operations will be substantial, particularly in respect of criminal trials and jury trials.'
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
All criminal trials in four B.C. courts to be rescheduled during FIFA World Cup
VANCOUVER – The chief justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court says all criminal trials that were to take place in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and New Westminster during the FIFA World Cup next year will have to be rescheduled. Chief Justice Ron Skolrood says in a notice posted Monday that the tournament is expected to have 'very significant impacts' on court operations at the affected Supreme Court locations. The notice says neither jury nor judge-only criminal trials will take place at the four locations from June 12 to July 8, 2026, and that no civil jury trials will take place either. It says the number of non-jury civil trials may also have to be reduced in the lead up to the tournament. The notice cites the draw on police resources around the Lower Mainland, heavy traffic that will make it difficult for sheriffs to transport suspects, and a potential lack of hotel rooms for jurors and out-of-town witnesses. Skolrood says the court is committed to having enough capacity for 'urgent matters,' but the service reductions during the tournament are 'unavoidable.' 'The full extent of the impacts is uncertain and will remain so for some time,' the notice says. 'We do know that the effects on the police and sheriff resources required to participate in or support the court's operations will be substantial, particularly in respect of criminal trials and jury trials.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
