Pursuant to section 29(2) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322), The Honourable the Chief Justice has appointed Mr Chao Hick Tin, Judge of Appeal, as Vice-President of the Court of Appeal with effect from 18th April 2008.

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has taken another bold step to reinforce Singapore's position as a leading sports hub. Today, Singapore's first-ever Framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports (ADR Sports) to resolve sports disputes was officially launched with the signing of a memorandum of understanding among several parties at a signing ceremony held at SSC.

In what the Court of Appeal labelled 'a costly frolic', relief must clearly be in the mind of Mr Jonathan Lock. The Court of Appeal ruled that the settlement of his case at the Subordinate Court's Primary Dispute Resolution Centre (PDRC) is an order of a court.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law Professor S Jayakumar and the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Mr Tjaco Van den Hout signed an Agreement on 10 September 2007 to establish a facility of the PCA in Singapore. The DPM's speech is below.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law Professor S Jayakumar and the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Mr Tjaco Van den Hout signed an Agreement today to establish a facility of the PCA in Singapore.

The Law Society Arbitration Scheme (LSAS) was officially launched on 1 August 2007 at the Singapore Management University. The LSAS is a quick and cost-effective way for parties to have their dispute resolved by a binding but private process of arbitration.

The President, acting in his discretion, and in concurrence with the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed Solicitor-General, Mr Chan Seng Onn, age 53, as a Judge of the High Court of Singapore under Article 95 of the Constitution. The appointment takes effect from 2 July 2007.

In a landmark decision, the High Court held that the e@dr Centre, under which mediation sessions such as Court Dispute Resolution (CDR) conferences are held, is not a court conferred with jurisdiction to grant orders. As such, there must be further endorsement by a court with such jurisdiction and judicial power, in order to crystallise the recorded terms of the settlement reached at a CDR conference into a consent judgment.

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong has announced a slew of changes for the Subordinate Courts. The changes, under the Subordinate Courts Work Plan, involves re-grouping the courts into specialised clusters.

It was announced in Parliament on Friday, 2 March 2007, that the qualifying income level for legal aid will be raised from nearly S$2,000 now to S$2,600 in the second half of 2007.

In a press statement dated 27 December 2006, but embargoed for release on 4 Janaury 2007, the Subordinate Courts announced its new and improved website which will also host the new ATOMS on the Internet. ATOMS on the Internet will enable offenders of minor traffic and parking offences will be able to settle their traffic or parking fines online.

Singapore is gaining popularity as an arbitration centre for foreign businesses based in Indonesia. Many Indonesian investors are resolving their business disputes in Singapore because they fear their rights may not be well protected by the Jakarta courts.

The Subordinate Courts launched the iCourtLab to look into harnessing the latest innovations in technology to improve the court system.

It has been reported in the Singapore Press that the Subordinate Courts has launched a scheme which uses full time lawyers as specialist judges to hear certain comples cases that requires expert knowledge.

Canadian energy company Enernorth Industries Inc. has lost its appeal against the decision of Justice Day ordering the company to pay about US$7-million to Singapore company Oakwell Engineering Ltd. The Ontario Court of Appeal rejected Enernorth's assertion that a Singapore judgment in favour of Oakwell shouldn't be enforced in Canada because the Singapore courts are corrupt.

A new specialist Community Court will be set up next month to deal with young offenders, those with mental disabilities and attempted suicide cases.

Chief Justice Yong Pung How will retire on 10 April 2006.

The President, acting in his discretion, and in concurrence with the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed:

a) Mr Chan Sek Keong, Attorney-General, as the Chief Justice from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 3 years in the first instance;

b) Justice Chao Hick Tin, Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court, as Attorney-General from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 2 years in the first instance;

c) Mr Lee Seiu Kin, Second Solicitor-General, as a Judge of the High Court of Singapore from 11 Apr 06; and

d) Mr Sundaresh Menon as a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court from 3 Apr 06, for a period of 1 year.

The President, acting on the advice of the Cabinet, has also appointed Mr Chan Sek Keong as the Chairman of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 3 years.

Singapore Chief Justice Yong Pung How will retire on April 10 2006, after more than 15 years in the top legal position. In a letter, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Chief Justice Yong for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice in Singapore.

Current Attorney-General Chan Sek Keong will be appointed Singapore's New Chief Justice from April 11 2006 for a period of three years.

Justice Chao Hick Tin, a Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court, has been named the new Attorney-General from April 11 2006 for two years.

Former High Court Judge Lai Kew Chai has died on 27 February 2006 at the age of 65. The late Mr Lai, who had just retired on 7th February 2006, suffered from cancer.

The President, acting in his discretion and in concurrence with the advice of the Prime Minister, has been pleased to appoint Justice Andrew Phang Boon Leong, as a Judge of Appeal under Article 95 of the Constitution with effect from 28 February 2006.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Lai Kew Chai, will retire from 7 February, after 25 years on the Bench.

7th January 2006 marks the official opening of the new Supreme Court Building, which has been in operation since June 2005. The building was officially opened by President S R Nathan.

The Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Act 2005 and the Rules of Court (Amendment No. 3) Rules have been gazetted. These amendments rules reduce the four existing modes of commencement of proceedings to only two: the originating summons and writ of summons. In addition, all interlocutory applications are to be made by way of summons only.