SUPREME COURT S I N G A P O R E

1
12th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and
the Pacific
Overcoming Backlogs
Speech of the Honourable the Chief Justice of
Singapore CJ Chan Sek Keong
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Introduction Then Now

• Magna Carta
• to no one will we refuse or delay justice
• Then

• More than 2,000 cases set down for trial but
  trial dates only available 3 years or more later

• More than 10,000 inactive cases, some of them for
  over 10 years

• 44 of cases took between 5-10 years to dispose

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Introduction Then Now

• Backlogs tackled swiftly

1. Appointing more judges
2. Changing rules of procedure
3. Denying adjournments
4. Giving hearing dates to moribund cases
5. Expanding jurisdiction of subordinate courts.
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Introduction Then Now

• Results

• Backlog of cases awaiting trial dates reduced
  from 2,059 in 1991 to 175 in 1993.

• Appeals reduced from 275 (1991) to 71 (1993).

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Conceptualising Backlogs

• Defining backlog and its link to socio-economic
  costs
• Justice delayed is justice denied
• When how to know a backlog existsBenchmarks
  Performance indicators
• Justice is like a train that is nearly always
  late.

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Overcoming Backlogs

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Singapore
  Arbitration Centre Singapore Mediation Centre
• Pre-action protocols for NIMA and medical
  negligence cases
• Diversionary Programme to extra-judicial
  resources (e.g. Financial Industry Disputes
  Resolution Centre, in association with Monetary
  Authority of Singapore)
• Debt Repayment Scheme under public consultation

• Manpower(a) Judges (b) Justices Law Clerks
  (JLCs)
• Court Processes(a) AEICs (b) Opening
  statements(c) Appellate advocacy submission
  of cases skeletal arguments (d) Selective
  docket system (High Court) Specially Managed
  Civil List (Subordinate Courts)(e)
  Differentiated Case Management.
• Technology(a) Electronic Filing System (EFS)
  integrated Electronic Litigation System (iELS)
  (b) Digital Transcription System(c) Automated
  Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS).

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Overcoming Backlogs

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Singapore
  Arbitration Centre Singapore Mediation Centre
• Pre-action protocols for NIMA and medical
  negligence cases
• Diversionary Programme to extra-judicial
  resources (e.g. Financial Industry Disputes
  Resolution Centre, in association with Monetary
  Authority of Singapore)
• Debt Repayment Scheme under public consultation

• Manpower(a) Judges (b) Justices Law Clerks
  (JLCs)
• Court Processes(a) AEICs (b) Opening
  statements(c) Appellate advocacy submission
  of cases skeletal arguments (d) Selective
  docket system (High Court) Specially Managed
  Civil List (Subordinate Courts)(e)
  Differentiated Case Management.
• Technology(a) Electronic Filing System (EFS)
  integrated Electronic Litigation System (iELS)
  (b) Digital Transcription System(c) Automated
  Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS).

• Auto-discontinuance
• Peremptory Orders (Unless orders)
• Night Courts
• Mediation in the Courts
• (a) Primary Disputes Resolution Centre (PDRC)
• (b) Community Mediation Centre (CMC)
• (c) Family Relations Centre (FRC)

• Pre-trial Conferences
• Peremptory Orders (Unless orders)
• Trial date certainty hearing fees
• Costs orders
• Regular statistical reports Applications
  Cases E-Management System (ACES) (alerts and
  almost-live statistics)
• Auto-discontinuance

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Electronic Filing System (EFS)
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Electronic Filing System (EFS)
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Automated Traffic Offence Management System
(ATOMS)Internet Interface
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Automated Traffic Offence Management System
(ATOMS)Electronic Kiosks Interface
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Overcoming Backlogs

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Singapore
  Arbitration Centre Singapore Mediation Centre
• Pre-action protocols for NIMA and medical
  negligence cases
• Diversionary Programme to extra-judicial
  resources (e.g. Financial Industry Disputes
  Resolution Centre, in association with Monetary
  Authority of Singapore)
• Debt Repayment Scheme under public consultation

• Manpower(a) Judges (b) Justices Law Clerks
  (JLCs)
• Court Processes(a) AEICs (b) Opening
  statements(c) Appellate advocacy submission
  of cases skeletal arguments (d) Selective
  docket system (High Court) Specially Managed
  Civil List (Subordinate Courts)(e)
  Differentiated Case Management.
• Technology(a) Electronic Filing System (EFS)
  integrated Electronic Litigation System (iELS)
  (b) Digital Transcription System(c) Automated
  Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS).

• Pre-trial Conferences
• Peremptory Orders (Unless orders)
• Trial date certainty hearing fees
• Costs orders
• Regular statistical reports Applications
  Cases E-Management System (ACES) (alerts and
  almost-live statistics)
• Auto-discontinuance

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Applications Cases E-Management System
(ACES)Alerts Interface
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Applications Cases E-Management System
(ACES)Pre-Trial Conference Interface
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Overcoming Backlogs

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Singapore
  Arbitration Centre Singapore Mediation Centre
• Pre-action protocols for NIMA and medical
  negligence cases
• Diversionary Programme to extra-judicial
  resources (e.g. Financial Industry Disputes
  Resolution Centre, in association with Monetary
  Authority of Singapore)
• Debt Repayment Scheme under public consultation

• Manpower(a) Judges (b) Justices Law Clerks
  (JLCs)
• Court Processes(a) AEICs (b) Opening
  statements(c) Appellate advocacy submission
  of cases skeletal arguments (d) Selective
  docket system (High Court) Specially Managed
  Civil List (Subordinate Courts)(e)
  Differentiated Case Management.
• Technology(a) Electronic Filing System (EFS)
  integrated Electronic Litigation System (iELS)
  (b) Digital Transcription System(c) Automated
  Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS).

• Auto-discontinuance
• Peremptory Orders (Unless orders)
• Night Courts
• Mediation in the Courts
• (a) Primary Disputes Resolution Centre (PDRC)
• (b) Community Mediation Centre (CMC)
• (c) Family Relations Centre (FRC)

• Pre-trial Conferences
• Peremptory Orders (Unless orders)
• Trial date certainty hearing fees
• Costs orders
• Regular statistical reports Applications
  Cases E-Management System (ACES) (alerts and
  almost-live statistics)
• Auto-discontinuance

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Night Courts
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Mediation The Courts
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Conclusion

• George Santayana Those who speak most of
  progress measure it by quantity and not by
  quality.
• George Bernard Shaw Justice is justice though
  its always delayed and finally done by mistake.

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Thank you