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Chief Justice's Foreword CHIEF JUSTICE’S FOREWORD As I have said on previous occasions, the Judiciary together with community partners, launched the is the custodian of the sacred trust to uphold first part of a Witness Orientation Toolkit to help the rule of law. To this end, it must not only hand prepare vulnerable witnesses for their attendance down judgments which are fair and well-reasoned, in court. Similarly, the Family Justice Courts worked but also ensure that justice is accessible to all, closely with the Family Bar to publish, earlier this for it is only by so doing that it can command the January, the second edition of The Art of Family trust, respect and confidence of the public. This Lawyering, which is an e-book that hopes to is indispensable to the proper administration of encourage family lawyers to conduct proceedings justice. in a manner that reduces acrimony between the parties, focuses on the best interests of the child, This One Judiciary Annual Report will provide an and conduces towards the search for meaningful overview of the work done by the Supreme Court, long-term solutions for families. the State Courts and the Family Justice Courts in 2018 to enhance our justice system to ensure that it On the international front, we continued to continues to serve the needs of our people. expand our international networks. Regionally, we deepened our engagement with ASEAN by playing host to a series of events involving the ASEAN legal community and will continue our outreach as Strengthening Our Justice System Both of Social Sciences School of Law to develop the I see through the rest of my term as President of The Road Ahead Within and Without law school’s curriculum and the design of its Legal the ASEAN Law Association. Beyond ASEAN, we As I announced in my Response at the Opening On the domestic front, we have made steady Clerkship Programme under which final year also reaffirmed our warm relationships with other of the 2019 Legal Year, the legal landscape is progress on reforms to our family, civil and criminal students are given opportunities to observe court judiciaries and international groupings of judges. being dramatically re-shaped by the forces of justice systems. In the area of family justice, the hearings and processes. Notably, at the second Singapore-China Legal and globalisation, technology, and commercialisation. inter-agency Committee to Review and Enhance Judicial Roundtable that was held in August 2018, The Judiciary is not insulated from these forces, Reforms in the Family Justice System has been And yet, education does not only end in law school, the Supreme Court established a working group and it will work with the legal profession to face the studying ways of strengthening our family justice which is why professional training and continuing to develop further areas of possible cooperation new challenges. In 2018, we focused on two key framework through the incorporation of therapeutic legal education is critical. One important initiative and signed a memorandum of guidance on the areas: (a) legal education and professional training, and restorative principles and it will be putting in the area of legal education, which will be of recognition and enforcement of money judgments and (b) transformation and innovation. forward a set of recommendations that include particular interest to the Judiciary, is the Master of in commercial cases. And in October 2018, judges measures to simplify the enforcement of child Laws in Judicial Studies programme, an advanced from the Supreme Court joined their counterparts access orders and a proposed certification and programme to be jointly offered by the Singapore from more than 30 other jurisdictions at the Legal Education and Professional Training accreditation scheme for family law practitioners. Judicial College and Singapore Management second meeting of the Standing International On legal education, it is imperative that our law In the areas of civil and criminal justice, the University. It is targeted at serving judges and Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) in New schools continue to produce graduates who are recommendations of the Civil Justice Commission, judicial aspirants and offers a comprehensive and York to exchange experiences and best practices equipped with the skills that will enable them and the reforms introduced by the Criminal Justice diverse programme that will address both the in the resolution of commercial disputes. We are to meet the evolving needs of our society and Reform Act 2018, promise to transform our present theoretical and practical aspects of judging. honoured to host the next SIFoCC meeting in 2020, the challenges of modern legal practice. For this system of civil and criminal justice by modernising and look forward to welcoming our colleagues reason, we continue to engage with a variety of key procedures, simplifying archaic provisions, and from around the world to continue this important stakeholders to strengthen the curriculum in our facilitating the efficient disposal of cases. Technology dialogue on how we can collaborate to strengthen law schools and to expand the opportunities that The Judiciary has long led the way in embracing the international legal infrastructure to promote students have for clinical training. One example The Courts have also launched several initiatives transformation and innovation in the area cross-border investment and trade. of this is the ongoing collaboration between the to help members of the public better navigate our Family Justice Courts and the Singapore University of technology, and it will continue to do so, judicial system. In October 2018, the State Courts, CHIEF JUSTICE’S FOREWORD particularly where this will allow increased We are also looking at ways of harnessing access to justice. It is for this reason that we have technology to enhance the efficiency of physical developed several technology-enabled self-help hearings. For example, the use of automated solutions for litigants. voice transcription systems supported by artificial intelligence can significantly reduce the cost of One such notable initiative is the Community obtaining real-time transcription for open court Justice and Tribunals System (CJTS), an online trials. In this regard, the State Courts have been filing and case management system with dispute collaborating with A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm resolution capabilities, that the State Courts first Research to develop an automated speech launched in the Small Claims Tribunals in July 2017. transcription system and, earlier this March, this Since then, the CJTS has been rolled out in phases system was deployed on a pilot basis in the State to cover several other kinds of claims: in February Courts, with further deployment in the Family 2018, it was implemented in the Community Justice Courts and the High Court planned in due Disputes Resolution Tribunals to allow the course. electronic filing of neighbour dispute claims as well as to facilitate the early settlement of such disputes Closing through an online dispute resolution module, Much has been accomplished in the past year, but and earlier this January, it was made available in much work remains to be done. I have no doubt the Employment Claims Tribunals to allow for the that, working together, the Singapore Judiciary online filing of employment claims. will continue to discharge its duty of ensuring that justice is dispensed without fear or favour, affection In similar vein, we are also aiming to launch an or ill-will, and that it remains within the reach of all online dispute resolution platform for motor accident claims over the course of this year. The platform is expected to feature an outcome simulator as well as a facility for parties to negotiate a settlement online without having to come to court. The Family Justice Courts are also exploring the use of this system to resolve disputes over child maintenance claims. Sundaresh Menon Chief Justice Supreme Court of Singapore THE JUDICIARY OF SINGAPORE AT A GLANCE The Judiciary is made up of the Supreme Court, State Courts and The Judiciary is one of the three Organs of State, together with the Executive and the Legislature. the Family Justice Courts. The Honourable the Chief Justice is the head of the Judiciary, who also oversees the Supreme Court. JUDICIARY EXECUTIVE LEGISLATURE interprets the laws and is a system or the Government, includes the comprises the President and of courts that upholds the law and Elected President, the Cabinet and Parliament and is the legislative ensures justice is accessible to all. the Attorney-General, and exercises authority responsible for powers according to the law. enacting legislation. CHIEF JUSTICE PRESIDING JUDGE PRESIDING JUDGE The Supreme Court Bench consists of the Chief Justice, Judges of The State Courts are headed by the Presiding Judge of the State Courts, who is The Family Justice Courts are headed by the Presiding Judge of the Family Appeal, Judges, Senior Judges, International Judges and Judicial assisted by the Deputy Presiding Judge, who concurrently holds the position of Justice Courts, and consist of Judges of the High Court (Family Division), Commissioners. The Supreme Court Registry is headed by the Registrar, Registrar of the State Courts. District Judges and Magistrates preside over the District including Judicial Officers holding the appointment of District Judges and who is assisted by the Deputy Registrar, Senior Assistant Registrars and Courts and Magistrates’ Courts respectively, and may hold concurrent appointments Magistrates, and may concurrently be appointed as Assistant Registrars, Assistant Registrars who perform judicial functions. as Deputy Registrars, Coroners, Referees, Tribunal Judges and Magistrates. together with Court Family Specialists and Court Administrators. DISTRICT COURTS HIGH COURT (FAMILY DIVISION) • Hear civil cases where the value of the claim is between $60,000 and • Exercises original jurisdiction and hears appeals against $250,000, or up to $500,000 for road traffic accident claims or claims for the decisions of the Family Courts and the Youth Courts in personal injuries arising out of industrial accidents.
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