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Opening of the Legal Year 2019

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Opening of the Legal Year 2019 ISSUE 01 • MAY 2019 OPENING OF THE LEGAL STATE COURTS TOWERS: FAMILY JUSTICE COURTS YEAR 2019: THE NEXT STRUCTURAL WORKS WORKPLAN 2019: CHAPTER IN OUR JOURNEY COMPLETED EVERY OUTCOME – A WAY FORWARD JUDICIARY TIMES • MAY 2019 02 HIGHLIGHTS OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR 2019: HIGHLIGHTS THE NEXT CHAPTER Opening of the Legal Year 2019: 01 The Next Chapter in Our Journey IN OUR JOURNEY State Courts Towers: 03 Structural Works Completed Family Justice Courts Workplan 2019: 04 Every Outcome – A Way Forward EVENTS & INITIATIVES State Courts Workplan 2019: 05 2020 and Beyond Supreme Court Strategic Compass 06 2019 - 2022 SICC Conference 07 Judicial Insolvency Network Meeting 07 The 2nd Asean Family Judges Forum 08 CAPS Dialogue with Family Service 08 Centres Family Mediation Symposium 09 State Courts Re-appoint Volunteer 09 Mediators The Executive Leadership Programme 10 Led by The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, the Supreme Court Bench adorned their ceremonial robes to Counter-terrorism Exercise at the 11 herald the Opening of Legal Year on 7 January at the Supreme Supreme Court Court Auditorium. Invited guests from the legal community, including legal luminaries from abroad, were addressed by Free Food and Books Available in 11 Chief Justice, Attorney-General Lucien Wong, and Mr Gregory the Courthouse Vijayendran, SC, President of the Law Society, who took stock of the work done in the past year, and set out the directions ahead. Read the full response at: www.supremecourt.gov.sg/news/speeches/ NOTABLE VISITS 12 In his address, Chief Justice exhorted the legal community to shift their collective attention to prepare themselves for a Bringing the day’s event to a close, dramatically changing legal landscape that is being reshaped Chief Justice and Mrs Menon hosted WHAT’S NEW? 15 by three significant forces: globalisation, technology, and the the annual Judiciary Dinner at the growing commercialisation of the law. He highlighted the need Istana on the same evening. The for a spirit of togetherness, and a multi-pronged approach Dinner was graced by Her Excellency President Halimah Yacob and Mr UPCOMING EVENTS 16 to confront the complex challenges ahead. He suggested three possible areas of focus for reforming, reimagining, and Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, and remodeling the legal profession, focusing on the areas of was well-attended by the Judiciary legal education, professional training and transformation and and invited guests from the legal BEHIND THE SCENES 17 innovation within the Judiciary. community, local and abroad. 03 JUDICIARY TIMES • ISSUE 1 JUDICIARY TIMES • MAY 2019 04 HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS STATE COURTS TOWERS: FAMILY JUSTICE COURTS WORKPLAN 2019: STRUCTURAL WORKS COMPLETED EVERY OUTCOME – A WAY FORWARD The State Courts marked the on- The Family Justice Courts (FJC) held FJC can focus on the following: Scheme will be conceptualised and schedule completion of the structural its fifth Annual Workplan event on (a) control proceedings; implemented to all who practise works of the new State Courts Towers 18 February at the Supreme Court (b) enable refreshed mindsets; family law to be equipped with the on 25 January, with a Topping-out Auditorium. The Workplan 2019, (c) focus on simplified processes basic specialist skillset. A Family Ceremony which was officiated by themed “Every Outcome - A Way and use of IT to enable an easier Specialist Accreditation Scheme, The Honourable the Chief Justice Forward”, was attended by close journey for our court users; through Singapore Academy of Sundaresh Menon. to 200 participants made up of (d) encourage harmonious routes, Law’s Specialist Accreditation Board, staff and invited guests from the mediation, and counselling at all is also targeted to be rolled out by The ceremony was marked by a Supreme Court and State Courts. appropriate junctures; and 2020 with the first batch of accredited drone that scaled the new 35-storey The Honourable the Chief Justice (e) build up strong, solid, Family Specialists to be announced State Courts Towers to place the Sundaresh Menon was the Guest-of- coordinated, and coherent non- by 2021. Justice Ong concluded symbolic final amount of concrete Honour for the event. legal therapeutic interventions her speech by recognising the to top-out the structure. Standing at and support. commitment and dedication of FJC 178m, the building, which comprises The Workplan commenced with staff – “the “heartware” that powers a court tower and an office tower, is the annual workplan address by A key enabler to achieve them will us on, the “heartbeat” of FJC”. the tallest government building in the Presiding Judge of FJC, Justice be to conduct a holistic overhaul Singapore to date. It will be fitted Debbie Ong. In her speech, Justice of key processes with the use of After the tea reception, the external with 53 courtrooms and 53 hearing Ong laid out FJC’s priorities and technology, including considering guests took their leave while FJC chambers. and future plans. Justice Ong began whether court attendances can be staff returned to the auditorium for her speech by highlighting that reduced to save time and costs. a dialogue session with Chief Justice Behind the steel beams and concrete, the theme is one of the values FJC For example, in the area of divorce, and Justice Ong, moderated by the public can expect a modern pledged to uphold and explained FJC will explore the possibility of Deputy Presiding Judge, Mr Chia courthouse which will employ various what the curly ribbon in the logo serving notices automatically and Wee Kiat. Staff members took this technologies to deliver excellent represented. She said it is hoped providing more services online such rare opportunity to engage Chief services to court users and manage that after the litigants go through the as requests for certified true copies Justice on his views pertaining to resources efficiently. For example, the doors of FJC, the ribbon becomes of court documents. Provision of family justice and his vision for FJC. Resource Management System will straighter with an arrow pointing online sample templates/outlines, In this candid and lively dialogue be used to manage the deployment forward, in an uplifting manner, and sample common court orders session, Chief Justice emphasised of physical and manpower resources representing a way forward. are also being considered. the importance of drawing strength through integration with the State and commitment from giving hope Courts’ case management systems. Quoting Chief Justice at the Going hand-in-hand with these to the people who come before It will be used for the allocation of Opening of FJC in 2014, Justice new initiatives is the equipping FJC. Echoing Justice Ong’s opening courtrooms and hearing chambers Ong shared that “Family Justice is a and training of both family judges remarks on FJC’s unique role, Chief as well as aid the deployment of unique field in the administration of and lawyers. To do so, a targeted Justice shared: “I think …in the court officers and court interpreters. justice.” As a court that goes beyond and specialised curriculum will family justice context that is the the traditional roles of doing only be rolled out for family judges subtext: that’s part of what you have Other IT or web-enabled services ‘right’, Justice Ong reiterated on how to enable them to work within a to do in order to do your real work that will be deployed in the new the welfare of the child is paramount multi-disciplinary framework. Also, which is to iron out the curly wurly building include video-conferencing and is worth protecting. controlling proceedings with strong and produce a nice, straight ribbon facilities, assistive listening devices in case management will be a priority that is pointing upwards to give all courtrooms, and progressively, the To reach that endeavour for families, in 2019. On training of family hope to the people. That should be Intelligent Court Transcription System for a start, Justice Ong shared that lawyers, a Family Lawyer Certification the source of our strength and that which will transcribe oral evidence should be our mission.” in court proceedings in real-time, and interactive self-service kiosks The impending move from a nine- to adapt and keep apace of the providing informational and payment storey building to a 35-storey environment that we operate in. services. Smart building technologies building, presents both opportunities We will look towards harnessing such as facial recognition and and challenges. Presiding Judge technology where possible, for the automation of building operations of the State Courts, Justice See Kee efficient administration of justice related to security, mechanical and Oon, said: “The State Courts face and to meet court users’ evolving electrical systems add to the suite of rapid changes in both the physical needs as we move forward to a new technologies that will be used in the and contextual environments. We beginning.” new State Courts Towers. must be alive to these and continue 05 JUDICIARY TIMES • ISSUE 1 JUDICIARY TIMES • MAY 2019 06 EVENTS & INITIATIVES EVENTS & INITIATIVES STATE COURTS WORKPLAN 2019: SUPREME COURT 2020 AND BEYOND STRATEGIC COMPASS 2019 – 2022 This year’s 13 initiatives focus on four Subordinate Courts to identify areas The Supreme Court’s ardent pursuit of court excellence encompassed a comprehensive review of its Vision and main areas: for improvement, and setting out Mission for the next three years. With an eye on the future and the world which is changing at a dramatic pace, • Delivering Excellent Court the strategies and implementation the Supreme Court embarked on a series of listening discussions with stakeholders and staff from all levels. What Services plans to achieve court excellence. At emerged strongly and resonated well is the Vision for the Supreme Court to be a leading and trusted judiciary, • Enhancing Court Processes the 28th Workplan on 8 March, the ready for tomorrow.
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