An additional judicial justice has been appointed to the Provincial Court to help address a backlog of traffic cases as a result of COVID-19 impacts on court operations. 

Judicial justices are judicial officers who exercise authority under various provincial and federal laws.

Catherine Kinahan has been appointed as judicial justice. After earning her law degree from the University of British Columbia, she was called to the bar in 1981. She was a City of Vancouver lawyer from 1985 to 2017, including her role as assistant director, enforcement and bylaw prosecutions. Prior to that, she worked as Crown counsel in Vancouver.

To maintain physical distancing for court participants, the Provincial Court has introduced staggered start times and is holding some traffic court hearings at alternative locations, such as post-secondary institutions.

The appointment of the new judicial justice will help fill the shifts necessary to address the backlog. This appointment follows the July appointments of three new Provincial Court judges and reappointment of three senior Provincial Court judges to increase the capacity of the Provincial Court and reduce delays. 

Learn More:

For information about the judicial appointment process, visit: www.provincialcourt.bc.ca

For information about the appointment of six Provincial Court judges:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AG0050-001327

For information about the Ministry of Attorney General response to COVID-19:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/covid-19