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The Judiciary - Coggle Diagram
The Judiciary
Independence of the Judiciary
Certain safeguards applicable only to Supreme Court Judges
Appointment and removal
Salaries are ‘protected’
Immunity for discharge of judicial duties
Restrictions on discussion of their conduct and behaviour
For the judiciary to exercise its powers ‘without fear or favour’
Tenure upon Appointment
Supreme Court Judges
holds office until he attains the age of 65 years
or up to 6 months thereafter, as the President may approve
a person who is 65 years old or older may be appointed as the Chief Justice, a Judge of Appeal or a Judge of the High Court
for a specified period
Removal
only if the Prime Minister, or Chief Justice after consulting the Prime Minister, represents to the President that Judge ought to be removed, on grounds of:
infirmity of body or mind
any other cause
The President may remove the Judge
if recommended by a tribunal of at least 5 Judges/ex-Judges
Salaries are 'Protected'
remuneration of the Judges of the Supreme Court
remuneration and other terms of office shall not be altered to his disadvantage after his appointment
Immunity for Discharge of Judicial Duties
Judicial officer in the State Courts
shall not be liable to be sued for any act done by him in good faith in the discharge of his judicial duty
whether or not within the limits of his jurisdiction
Judicial officer in the Family Justice Courts
shall not be liable to be sued for any act done by him in good faith in the discharge of his judicial duty
whether or not within the limits of his jurisdiction
Restrictions on Discussion of Conduct and Behaviour
cannot be discussed in Parliament except on a substantive motion
notice has been given by not less than ¼ of the total number of Members of Parliament
contempt of court
intentionally publishing any matter or doing any act that imputes improper motives to or impugns the integrity, propriety or impartiality of any court
intentionally insults or causes any interruption or obstruction to any judge of any court, while such judge is sitting in any stage of a court proceeding
Qualifications of District Judges
presided over by District Judges appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
qualified person for not less than 7 years
But may be appointed if:
qualified person for not less than 7 years
the Chief Justice is of the opinion that the person is suitable to be appointed as a District Judge
District Judges are ex officio a Magistrate
able to hear cases in the Magistrate’s Court
Appointment of Judges of Supreme Court
The Chief Justice, the Judges of Appeal and the Judges of the High Court
appointed by the President if he, acting in his discretion, concurs with the advice of the Prime Minister
65 years of age or older
either qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court or has ceased to be a Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice, a Judge of Appeal or a Judge of the High Court for a specified period
If the President, acting in her discretion, concurs with the advice of the Prime Minister, she may appoint:
a person who qualifies as a Judge of the Supreme Court to be a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court
a person who has ceased to be a Supreme Court Judge to be a Senior Judge of the Supreme Court
a person who, in the opinion of the Chief Justice, is a person with the necessary qualifications, experience and professional standing to be an International Judge of the Supreme Court
Parliament may by law limit the classes of cases that may be heard and determined
A Judicial Commissioner, a Senior Judge or an International Judge of the Supreme Court may be appointed:
to hear and determine a specific case only
or for a specified period
Qualifications of Judges of Supreme Court
has for an aggregate period of not less than 10 years been a qualified person
within the meaning of section 2 of the Legal Profession Act (Cap. 161)
member of the Singapore Legal Service, or both
President may, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, appoint a Registrar, a Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrars of the Supreme Court
Presiding Judge of State Courts
President may, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, appoint a Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court to be the Presiding Judge of the State Courts for such period as the Chief Justice may recommend
has all the jurisdiction, power and privileges of such a judge
may, continue to sit in the High Court or the Court of Appeal
Qualifications of Magistrates
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
a qualified person for not less than 3 years
But may be appointed if:
has been a qualified person for not less than one year
the Chief Justice is of the opinion that the person is suitable to be appointed as a Magistrate
Qualifications of Coroners
is a judicial officer appointed under the State Courts Act
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
is a District Judge
Qualifications of Tribunal Magistrates
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
a District Judge designated as a Tribunal Magistrate by the Presiding Judge of the State Courts
qualified person
Presiding Judge of Family Justice Courts
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
for such period as the Chief Justice may recommend
has all the jurisdiction, power and privileges of such a judge
they may, during the period of his appointment as the Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts, continue to sit in the High Court or the Court of Appeal
presided over by a District Judge, or a Magistrate
designated by the Chief Justice
"Qualified Person"
possesses such qualifications as the Minister for Law may prescribe or may deem to be so prescribed
and who satisfies such other requirements as the Minister may prescribe
or before 9 October 2009 was approved by the Board of Legal Education as a qualified person
or is otherwise approved by the Minister as a qualified person
Powers of Other Supreme Court Judges
shall have the same validity and effect as if done by a Judge of the High Court
the Judicial Commissioner, Senior Judge or International Judge
shall have the same powers and enjoy the same immunities as if he had been a Judge of the High Court
Qualifications of Referees
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
qualified person
Qualifications of Other Judicial Officers
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice
qualified person
Qualifications of Other Judicial Officers
Chief Justice may appoint a Registrar and Deputy Registrars
must be qualified persons
the Chief Justice may, in his discretion, appoint any person who is not a qualified person
Qualifications of Youth Court Judges
presided over by a District Judge, or a Magistrate
designated by the Chief Justice as a judge of the Youth Court