Four judges' terms extended; nineteen others reappointed

Four High Court judges will have their terms extended, while three will be reappointed as senior judges, the Supreme Court announced yesterday.

High Court Judge Quentin Loh will have his appointment extended by two years after his current term ends next Thursday.

He will also become president of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) with the start of his new term.

Since his retirement in December 2015, Justice Loh has been reappointed High Court judge twice and was also appointed in 2018 as judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji on a part-time basis for three years.

The other three High Court judges - Justice Chan Seng Onn, Justice Lee Seiu Kin and Justice Choo Han Teck - will have their tenure extended for another year.

Justice Chan, who acquitted former maid Parti Liyani of theft, will begin his new term on Jan 4.

Justice Lee, whose new tenure starts on Jan 30, chairs the One Judiciary Steering Committee, which oversees and drives the implementation of technology in the courts.

Justice Choo, who has been president of the Military Court of Appeal since November 2004, among other roles, will begin his new term on Feb 21.

Separately, Justice Chao Hick Tin, Justice Andrew Ang and Justice Lai Siu Chiu will be reappointed as senior judges, with their new terms starting on Jan 5. Justice Chao's new tenure will last two years, while the other two judges will be reappointed for a year.

Sixteen international judges will also be reappointed to the SICC after their current terms expire on Jan 4. Fifteen will be reappointed for three years, while the remaining judge, Justice Carolyn Berger, will end her new tenure with the conclusion of an ongoing case.

With the new reappointments, the Supreme Court will have a total of 25 judges (including the Chief Justice and four judges of appeal), six judicial commissioners, three senior judges and 16 international judges.