1. September 2013
new faces
Mr Ho Shee Yan
Senior Assistant Director, Internal Audit
“Hi everyone! I am really happy to be a part of
Supreme Court family. I hope to meet many of
you in person and I look forward to working with
all of you! ”
Ms Una Khng
Assistant Registrar
“I was with the Supreme Court in 2006 / 2007
and joined Drew & Napier thereafter. It is both
surreal and exciting to be back – to see both
new and familiar faces. I am looking forward to
my new role and to being reacquainted with /
getting to know everybody.”
Ms Tay Xiu Hui
Case Manager (Civil), Legal Directorate
“I started my first job at ICA before I joined
Supreme Court. I am looking forward to my
new job and also getting to know my
colleagues. =)”
SEPTEMBER
Upcoming Visits in
ASEAN Law Association’s Governing Council & Inaugural Meeting of ASEAN Chief Justices in
Singapore
The Supreme Court and the Singapore National Committee of the ASEAN Law Association (“ALA
(Singapore)”) hosted the 35th ALA Governing Council meeting from 23 to 25 August 2013 at the
Marina Bay Sands. For the first time in the 34-year history of ALA, the 35th ALA Governing Council
Meeting was attended by all 10 ASEAN member nations. There were approximately 280 local and
foreign delegates in attendance.
In conjunction with the Governing Council meeting, the Supreme Court also hosted the Inaugural
Meeting of Chief Justices of ASEAN on 23 August 2013. The meeting was very fruitful and the
Chief Justices agreed to:
 Develop an internet portal to improve the flow of information on ASEAN judiciaries;
 Promote judicial education and training for Judges and judicial officers within ASEAN; and
 Collaborate and share best practices.
The ASEAN Chief Justices also agreed to meet periodically in conjunction with future meetings of
the ALA.
Teresa Lee - Stenographer, Stenographers’ Pool
Annual Report 2012 is out!
In May 2013, the Supreme Court successfully completed our Integrated Business Excellence
(iBE) 2-day on-site assessment.
Thanks to everybody’s participation, contribution and support, we have achieved re-
certification for the Singapore Quality Class (“SQC”), People Development Standard (“PDS”)
and Innovation Class (“I-Class”). With respect to the SQC, we have once again been awarded
the SQC Star – an acknowledgement for organisational excellence. In addition, we have
bagged a new Service Class award on our very first attempt at certification.
… my warmest congratulations and appreciation to all who have worked very hard to achieve
these notable awards and milestones. I am truly grateful and very delighted. Thank you all
very much indeed!
- The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
I thank everyone sincerely … for your wholehearted support and commitment. As someone
said to the assessors, “that is why I wake up every morning and look forward to come to work”,
- Foo Chee Hock, Registrar
It was certainly evident how everyone put their heart and soul into this …. We worked as one
and I hope that we can continue with this spirit even after the iBE assessment. One team One
SupCourt!
- Juthika Ramanathan, Chief Executive
You have shown the assessors that we are a formidable team and organisation! … to each of you
who have participated and supported the iBE effort in your own special way, thank you very
much for making the iBE re-certification exercise a success.
- Teh Hwee Hwee, Deputy Registrar
Have you ever wondered how some of your colleagues fill their working
hours? Take a walk in their shoes with our “A Day in the Life” column!
Teresa believes in keeping a positive mind set
no matter what the obstacles may be!
I begin my day by checking through my emails to see how I can assist
the Assistant Registrars (ARs) whom I am assigned to. These include:
For most of the day, I will assist the ARs with their hearings. For example, one of my assigned ARs
has a Preliminary Inquiry hearing that is about to begin soon, so I will first need to prepare the
minute sheets and check if the documents required at the hearing have been signed by the AR.
At times, I would need to cart the bundles and documents to the chambers where the hearing will
be held. Once the hearing is concluded, I will assist to index the minute sheets. If parties require
the notes of evidences of the hearing, I will also need to provide them with copies.
On a rotational basis, I will also be assigned to cover the duties of other stenographers or Private
Secretaries to the Judges when they go on leave.
At the end of the day, while the ARs are diligently preparing for tomorrow’s hearings, I will collect
the documents required from Legal Registry and assist the Ars in skimming through the
documents’ presentation formats after they are vetted.
Once that is completed, I can proceed to plan my tasks for the next working day.
 Updating the ARs’ diaries with the programs and events they are
involved in;
 Handling the logistical arrangements, including arranging for
refreshments and booking of meeting venues;
 Photocopying, printing, binding and scanning of documents,
newspapers’ clippings and extracts from books
We hope that you have received your copy of the Annual Report 2012.
The editorial team for the Annual Report spent the past year working
on the project from copywriting and editing the articles, to organising
the photo shoot, to printing. It was a fruitful journey and we hope that
you enjoy reading the Report as much as we enjoyed putting it
together.
If you haven’t received your copy, please feel free to contact the
Corporate Communications Directorate (CCD)!
George Wei Sworn in as Judicial Commissioner
Judicial Commissioner (“JC”) George Wei was sworn in
at the Istana on 1 August 2013.
JC George Wei, who is an expert in intellectual property
law in Singapore, was a Professor at the Singapore
Management University (SMU) and taught at the
National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Law. He
obtained his Diploma in Law from the School of
Oriental & African Studies, University of London, and
later his Masters in Law, from the University College
London.
The Supreme Court extends a warm welcome to JC
George Wei.
JC George Wei is appointed a Judicial Commissioner of
the Supreme Court for a period of one year with effect
from 1 August 2013. With the appointment of JC
George Wei, the Supreme Court will have a total of 15
Judges (including the Honourable the Chief Justice
Sundaresh Menon) and two Judicial Commissioners.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Communications and
Information (MCI)
Visit by South Australian Attorney-General the
Honourable John Rau.
AG John Rau will call on Chief Justice Sundaresh
Menon on 6 September and will be learning about the
Supreme Court’s innovations – eLitigation and
Customer Service excellence.
Visit by Sir Paul Jenkins, QC
The Chief Executive of the UK Treasury Solicitor’s
office, Sir Paul Jenkins will call on Chief Justice
Sundaresh Menon on 17 September. Sir Paul will be
accompanied by the British High Commissioner.
SAL Lecture by Robert French, Chief Justice of the
High Court of Australia.
In conjunction with the SAL Annual Lecture 2013 on
17 September, Chief Justice French will call on be
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and will also be hosted
by the Bench to lunch and briefing on eLitigation.
In an effort to strengthen the ties between the
Judiciary and Senior Counsel, the Supreme Court
and the Law Society take turns to organise the
annual dinner for the Judiciary and Senior Counsel
Forum. This year, it is the Law Society’s turn to
organise the dinner.
A total of 90 diners attended the dinner at the
Atlantic Room, Tower Club on 29 August 2013,
including 15 members of the Supreme Court Bench,
former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, Attorney-
General Steven Chong, Solicitor-General Mrs Koh
Juat Jong and Subordinate Courts’ Senior District
Judge Leslie Chew Kwee Hoe.
The dinner commenced with a welcome speech by
Mr Chelva Raja SC on behalf of the Forum, followed
by a speech by the Honourable the Chief Justice
Sundaresh Menon. Diners were also entertained by
members of the Forum.