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Media Release: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam Officially Opens the Family Justice Courts Building
Over 1,600 guests attended the open house, learning more about the Family Justice Courts’ therapeutic approach to administering justice.
1. On 23 July 2025, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated the opening of the Family Justice Courts (FJC) Building at 3 Havelock Square.
2. The FJC, which previously operated from two separate locations at Maxwell Road and Havelock Square, began operations in its new, consolidated home at 3 Havelock Square on 25 November 2024.
3. To mark this official opening, the FJC hosted an open house welcoming over 1,600 guests including distinguished guests such as Minister for Social and Family Development Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Law Mr. Edwin Tong SC, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport Mr. Murali Pillai SC, and Attorney-General Lucien Wong SC. Key partners and stakeholders in the family justice ecosystem were also present, as were approximately 300 junior college and secondary school students.
4. Through interactive activities and guided tours, the open house showcased the FJC's work within its new premises. The building, formerly housing the Subordinate Courts and State Courts, has been extensively refurbished and repurposed to support a therapeutic approach to family justice.
5. During his tour of the courthouse, President Tharman observed how the physical environment itself seeks to foster healing and resolution for families facing challenging legal situations. As noted by the Presiding Judge of the FJC, Justice Teh Hwee Hwee, in her Welcome Address, the building design features warm tones and wooden textures to soften the edges within the courthouse, with artworks by youths from the Singapore Boys’ and Girls’ Homes adorning the walls conveying messages of hope and restoration. There are also quiet rooms for distressed adults to find calm. All these features are carefully tailored in line with the principles of Therapeutic Justice (TJ) as practised by the FJC.
A Commitment to Healing and Transformation
6. President Tharman said “The refurbished courthouse reflects the Family Justice Courts’ commitment to supporting families and children on their journey of healing and transformation. Therapeutic justice is critical, not just to help resolve disputes, but to rebuild relationships and give families a stronger footing for the future."
7. The FJC adopted the TJ approach as its overarching philosophy in 2020. At the FJC’s 10th anniversary in October 2024, the FJC formally launched the TJ Model, which provides an actionable framework affording practical guidance to judges, lawyers, counsellors, social workers and other actors in the family justice system.
8. The TJ Model applies to all matrimonial proceedings, offering appropriate pathways for parties to navigate the court process to minimise conflict and pain leading to timely and enduring outcomes.
9. In his address at the official opening ceremony today, The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon announced that divorcing couples with minor children who come before the Courts will now receive a TJ Journal. This journal is designed to support them beyond the courtroom, encourage reflection, and offer helpful advice and information about the divorce process.
10. Chief Justice Menon also announced the extension of the TJ approach to proceedings in the Youth Courts. In alignment with TJ principles, the Youth Courts will explore the use of reflective and forward-looking tools and methods to guide youth offenders through structured reflection, encouraging commitment towards positive transformation and rehabilitation. In addition to deploying multi-disciplinary teams to manage selected cases more holistically and encourage timely referrals to therapeutic support services, Youth Court proceedings will also embrace a “whole of community” approach, fostering collaboration among the Court, parents, educators, social workers, and community partners to support every child or young person who is a subject of those proceedings.
11. More details on the implementation of TJ in Youth Court matters will be announced at a later date.
Issued by: Singapore Courts
23 July 2025
Topics:
Court initiatives
2025/07/23
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