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Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon: Welcome Address at the Judiciary Volunteers Appreciation Lunch 2026
Judiciary Volunteers Appreciation Lunch 2026
Welcome Address
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
Supreme Court of Singapore
I. Introduction
1. Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure for me to join you for today’s Appreciation Lunch. This is always a special occasion for the Judiciary because it gives us the opportunity once again to thank the many people who give so generously of their time, expertise and energy to support the administration of justice in Singapore.
II. The Bicentennial
2. This year’s gathering has particular significance because it takes place as we commemorate the Bicentennial of the Second Charter of Justice. Last month, I delivered the NUS Bicentennial Lecture on the rule of law. There, I spoke about why we need the rule of law, and what it requires. But today, I want to approach the subject from a slightly different angle, and that is to ask: who sustains the rule of law?
3. The answer is that it is not sustained only by judges and lawyers. But the rule of law depends on a much wider community of people who, in different ways, come together to help make the justice system work for those who turn to it. And central to that is the work of making justice accessible. After all, rights and remedies mean very little if they remain beyond the practical reach of those who need those rights and reliefs.
4. Our court volunteers are critical part of that community. You serve in different capacities and come from different backgrounds, but what unites you is your willingness to give your time and expertise in service of justice. In doing so, you help make our justice system more accessible and more humane. And that means each of you is an important part of the story that we commemorate and celebrate in this Bicentennial year.
5. To mark this special year, every court volunteer present today will receive a Bicentennial Medallion which has been specially commissioned by the Singapore Judiciary. On it are two landmarks: the Arts House, which housed Singapore’s first courthouse, and the present Supreme Court building. Together, they remind us of where our Courts began, and of how far we have come together in that time.
6. Much has changed over these last two centuries. But the fundamental commitments to fairness, impartiality and integrity have not. Those commitments endure because for generation after generation, our people have applied and put them into practice. Today, we have the pleasure of recognising some of those who have been doing just that.
III. Awards
7. Let me begin with our awards, which recognise some of our volunteers for their exceptional service.
8. We begin by recognising long service. This year, 37 volunteers will receive the 10-year Long Service Award. We also recognise six volunteers for 15 years of service: Mr Ang Wee Tiong, Ms Gloria James-Civetta, Mr Melvin See, Mr Raymond Lam Kuo Wei, Mr Richard Lim and Ms Viviene Sandhu. To each of you, thank you for staying the course, and for giving so generously of yourselves over so many years.
9. We also honour four recipients of the LASCO Long Service Award, each of whom has devoted more than 25 years of service: Mr Michael Soo Chia, Mr Pratap Kishan, Mr Nicholas Aw Wee Chong and Mr Laurence Goh Eng Yau. More than a quarter of a century of service is an extraordinary commitment. We are deeply grateful to each of you.
10. We next turn to our Outstanding Volunteer Awards:
- In the Advocate and Solicitor category, the award goes to Ms Gloria James-Civetta, who joined the State Courts panel of Associate Mediators, now known as Court Volunteer Mediators, in 2011. Over the past 15 years, Gloria has devoted herself to mediating civil cases. Between April 2025 and March 2026, the cases she mediated achieved an overall settlement rate of 83%. That speaks not only to her skill as a mediator, but also to the care, commitment and effort that she brought to helping the parties find an amicable resolution;
- In the Open category, the award goes to Mr Koo Nam Kok. He has attended 52 sessions and mediated 15 cases, which gives some sense of the extent of his contribution to the Community Courts and Tribunals Cluster. But the numbers tell only part of the story. Mr Koo is always willing to help the parties reach an amicable settlement, and he has often gone beyond what is required, including by extending his assistance beyond scheduled mediation hours. His settlement rate of about 87% is a fitting reflection of that dedication; and
- And in the Student category, the award goes to Mr Yeo Chang Zhen Jasper, who recently graduated from the Singapore Management University. Jasper clocked 72 pro bono hours, the highest in his cohort. During his time with us, he assisted self-represented persons to navigate the Community Justice and Tribunals System, including by guiding them through the filing of matters in small claims, employment claims, harassment cases and neighbour disputes. For a young volunteer, that is a remarkable contribution.
11. I congratulate all of you for your excellent contributions.
12. There is one further group whom I am pleased to recognise today. For the first time at this event, we will present certificates of appreciation to the 12 young lawyers who have been appointed as Young Independent Counsel this year.
13. The Young Independent Counsel scheme is an important part of our commitment to developing the next generation of advocates while enhancing the administration of justice. Under the scheme, young lawyers are appointed to assist the Court on novel or complex issues. In doing so, they have the opportunity to hone their advocacy skills and make a significant pro bono contribution to the work of the Court.
14. To the 12 Young Independent Counsel whom we recognise today: thank you for stepping forward. I hope you will see these appointments not only as professional opportunities, but also as an invitation to take your place in a wider tradition of service – to the law, to the Courts, and ultimately to those whom our justice system serves.
15. To all our award recipients, my warmest congratulations, and my sincere thanks.
IV. Wellness
16. Before I close, let me say a few words about one other theme that runs through today’s programme, and that is wellness.
17. Those engaged in the administration of justice do work that is often profoundly meaningful, but it is almost always very demanding. Much of what comes before the Courts concern people who are navigating difficult moments in their lives. To serve them well takes patience, empathy, dedication and resilience.
18. A strong justice system ultimately depends on the well-being of the people who serve it and who make up that system. So even as we give of ourselves to others, we must remember to make space to care for ourselves, and for one another.
19. I understand that our organisers have found some rather imaginative ways of bringing this theme to life today. You will have the chance, I am told, to blend your own bath salts to take home, and each of you will also receive a massage gun as a door gift. So I hope that you will leave today not only feeling appreciated, but better equipped to relax and recharge.
20. Let me close by congratulating all our award recipients once again, and by thanking every one of our court volunteers for your generosity, your dedication and your commitment to the administration of justice. You really are an indispensable part of what we do, and through your work, you help make our justice system more accessible, more responsive and more humane. We are deeply grateful for your partnership, and we really could not do what we do without your support.
21. Thank you.
Topics:
Volunteers
2026/10/07
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