The Judiciary is one of the three Organs of State. Under the Constitution, judicial power in Singapore is vested in the Supreme Court, the Family Justice Courts and the State Courts. The Honourable the Chief Justice heads the Singapore Judiciary. Within the Judicial Branch, the Registrar of the Supreme Court supervises the Legal Service Officers in the Supreme Court; while the Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts and the Presiding Judge of the State Courts lead the Legal Service Officers in the Family Justice Courts and the State Courts, respectively. The Registrar, the Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts and the Presiding Judge of the State Courts are accountable to The Honourable the Chief Justice for their management of these Legal Service Officers.
SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court comprises the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal is the final appellate court and the highest court of the land. It hears civil and criminal appeals from the High Court and determines questions of law which the High Court reserves for its decision.
The Supreme Court Registry performs both judicial and administrative functions. Legal Service Officers posted to the Supreme Court Registry serve as the Registrar, the Deputy Registrar, Senior Assistant Registrars and Assistant Registrars.
Legal Service Officers with strong academic credentials may be posted to the Supreme Court to serve as Justices’ Law Clerks. Justices’ Law Clerks assist The Honourable the Chief Justice and the Judges of the Supreme Court by providing assistance in legal research in civil and criminal appeals before the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
FAMILY JUSTICE COURTS
The Family Justice Courts (“FJC”) are established on 1 Oct 2014 pursuant to the Family Justice Act to address the needs of youth and families in distress. The FJC are made up of the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts (formally known as the Juvenile Court). The Family Division of the High Court will primarily hear appeals against the decisions of the Family Courts and the Youth Courts; the Juvenile Court will hear cases related to children and young persons; and the Family Courts will hear all family proceedings except cases under the Children and Young Persons Act, which will be heard by the Youth Courts.
Legal Service Officers posted to the Family Justice Courts serve as District Judges. They may also hold concurrent appointments as the Registrar, Deputy Registrars and Assistant Registrars.
STATE COURTS
Under the State Courts Act, Chapter 321, the State Courts comprise the District Courts, the Magistrates' Courts, the Coroners' Courts, the Juvenile Courts and the Small Claims Tribunals. Within this legal framework, various specialist courts have been designated to deal with the wide variety of cases. These include the Criminal Mentions Courts, the Civil and Criminal Trial Courts, the Community Courts, specialised courts for bail matters, traffic cases, and summonses and regulatory matters, and the Family Court.
Legal Service Officers posted to the State Courts serve as either District Judges or Magistrates. They may hold concurrent appointments as the Registrar, Deputy Registrars, Coroners and Referees of the Small Claims Tribunals.