Pandemic Prompts B.c. to suspend civil jury trials

Civil jury trials in British Columbia are being suspended for a year to help courts remain safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from Attorney General David Eby says they’ve made the changes in consultation with key legal sectors to find the best way forward. The suspension starts Sept. 28 and civil jury trials will resume Oct. 4, 2021. The statement says any civil trial between those dates will be heard by a judge alone and neither side in the case will be allowed to adjourn it unless the judge orders otherwise. The government says the suspension will help minimize delays linked to measures needed to keep a jury safe. Law Society of B.C. president Craig Ferris and Jennifer Brun, the president of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association, say their groups support the changes.