Senior Judges of the Supreme Court: Appointment, reappointment and completion of terms

The President of the Republic of Singapore, in accordance with Article 95(4) (b) of the Constitution, has appointed Justice Chao Hick Tin (赵锡燊) as a Senior Judge of the Supreme Court, for a period of three years commencing 5 January 2018. At the same time, Justice Andrew Ang (翁安得烈), Justice Tan Lee Meng (陈利明) and Justice Lai Siu Chiu (赖秀珠) will also be reappointed Senior Judges of the Supreme Court for a period of three years. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on 8 January 2018 at the Istana.

Appointment of Justice Chao Hick Tin as Senior Judge

2. Justice Chao Hick Tin began his career in the Public Service as a State Counsel in the Attorney-General’s Chambers in 1967 and rose to the position of Senior State Counsel in 1979. Justice Chao was appointed Judicial Commissioner in 1987, elevated to a High Court Judge in 1990 and subsequently became a Judge of Appeal in 1999. He was appointed Attorney-General in 2006 and returned to the Supreme Court as a Judge of Appeal and Vice-President of the Court of Appeal in 2008. Justice Chao retired as a Judge of Appeal on 28 September 2017 after more than 50 years of public service.

3. With his experience, Justice Chao as Senior Judge will be sitting in the Court of Appeal.

Reappointment of three Senior Judges

Justice Andrew Ang

4. Justice Andrew Ang started his legal career as a lecturer at the University of Singapore’s Law Faculty in 1972. He joined Lee & Lee in 1974 where he became a Partner in 1975. In 2004, he was appointed to the Bench as a Judicial Commissioner and elevated to a High Court Judge in 2005. Justice Ang retired in 2014 and returned to Supreme Court as a Senior Judge in 2015.

Justice Tan Lee Meng

5. Justice Tan Lee Meng joined the Supreme Court as a Judicial Commissioner in 1997 and was appointed Judge in the same year. He retired in 2013 and became a Senior Judge in 2015. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Tan was Dean of the Law Faculty from 1987 to 1992, and appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor of the NUS in 1992.

Justice Lai Siu Chiu

6. Justice Lai Siu Chiu was appointed Judicial Commissioner in 1991, the first female to do so. She subsequently became the first female Judge of the Supreme Court in 1994. Justice Lai was in private practice prior to joining the Supreme Court.

7. During their tenures, the Senior Judges heard civil cases and other hearings such as urgent applications and various types of appeals to the High Court. Senior Judges, who are former Judges of the Supreme Court will be assigned to handle specific cases or class of cases as determined by the Chief Justice.

Completion of terms

8. Meanwhile, Justice Chan Sek Keong (陈锡强) and Justice Kan Ting Chiu (简廷照) will complete their terms as Senior Judges on 4 January 2018.

9. In appreciation of their contributions, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said, “As a Senior Judge, Justice Chan Sek Keong served with distinction and made significant contributions as a Judge of Appeal and a Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court. I am deeply grateful. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Justice Kan Ting Chiu for his considerable contribution as a Senior Judge including in handling urgent applications and several High Court trials. I wish both Justice Chan and Justice Kan the very best for their happy retirement.”

10. With the above appointment, reappointments and completion of terms, the number of Senior Judges at the Supreme Court stands at four.

SUPREME COURT
22 DECEMBER 2017

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