B.C.'s highest court will hear appeals from 16 people convicted of criminal contempt for violating a court injunction barring protests in front of Kinder Morgan's Burnaby gates.

But B.C. Court of Appeal Justice John Savage's ruling still requires them to complete their sentences—most of which were court orders to pay $500 fines. 

"In this case, the circumstances of the appellants and the sentences they were given are not all the same," Savage wrote in a decision released today. "In my view, it would not be appropriate to consider whether the interests of justice favor such relief for the appellants as a group, nor would the materials filed allow me to make such a determination.

"As must be apparent, a party is not granted relief from the consequences of their actions, and a court order, merely because they have appealed," the judge continued. "A strong argument could be made that the public interest favours their sentences being enforced."

The appellants are Alexa Claire Wood, Anneke C. Rotmeyer, Annemarie Mobach, Carolyn (Frankie) McGee, Meeka Marsolais, Quin Lawrence, Louise LeClair, Sharon B. Kravitz, Tavin Kemp, Judith Kalyan, Robert Allan Henrichsen, Brandon Gosnell, Aaron Goodbaum, Corina Bye, Victor Brice, and Cadine Boechler.

Savage's ruling noted that if their appeals are successful, their fines will be returned.

"Two of the three appellants sentenced to probation consisting of community service have already completed the required number of hours," Savage noted. "In my view in seeking a stay, if such application is appropriate, each appellant must demonstrate why the interests of justice require a stay of proceedings in their case."