The CBA/Federal Court Bench and Bar Liaison Committee ("FCBBLC") was established by resolution of National Sections Council in August 1992. The Committee's mandate is to provide a forum for members of the bar, the Federal Court and Federal Court Appeal to informally discuss issues of concern relating to the operation of the Court, that fall outside the mandate of the Federal Court Rules Committee.

The Committee meets in Ottawa, normally twice each year. Section members can suggest agenda items by contacting any member of the Committee or Marilou Reeve, Lawyer, Legislation & Law Reform, at the CBA National Office by email at marilour@cba.org.

Next Meeting: June 1, 2012

The Committee formally reports to the CBA and National Sections Council in June.

CBA members serve for rotating three-year terms. Candidates must have the following qualifications:

1. area of practice includes Federal legislation;
2. actively appear before the Federal Court; and
3. five of the seven members must be members of a National Section that has significant involvement with Federal Legislation that results in litigation before the Federal Court.

Nominees must be CBA members and nominations must be submitted by CBA National Sections and cannot be made by individuals. 

Global Review of the Federal Courts Rules: A Discussion Paper

The Rules Committee of the Federal Courts has established a subcommittee to conduct a global review of the Federal Courts Rules. Please see the documents below on how to provide input.

See:
Consultation Document
Global Review of the Federal Courts Rules:  A Discussion Paper

Common List of Authorities

Together with lawyers from Justice Canada, CBA has compiled a common list of authorities for use in Federal Court immigration and aboriginal law proceedings.  These lists streamline books of authorities that lawyers must produce, saving time and saving paper.  A Federal Court Notice to Parties and the Profession indicates that only quoted passages from cases in the Common List of Authorities need be reproduced in books of authorities.  The Federal Court has made copies of the common authorities available to judges in every centre where the Court conducts hearings. 

See:
Notice to the Parties and the Profession: Common List of Authorities
Common List of Authorities. Volume 1: Immigraton and Refugee Law 
Common List of Authorities, Volume 2: Aboriginal Law

E-filing Expansion

This development is the result of on-going efforts by the Federal Court and the Courts Administration Service to modernize practice tools in the Court.