1. The Honourable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong attended the Opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales on Tuesday 1 October 2024.
2. The Opening of the Legal Year continues a long tradition that is celebrated by members of the legal profession in England and Wales and this year marked the first time a Chief Justice from the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam attended.
The Chief Justice in attendance at the Opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales at Westminster Abbey
3. The historic event marks the start of the legal year in England and Wales and commenced with a service at Westminster Abbey with judges arriving in a formal procession through the Abbey.
4. The service began with readings by The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Right Honourable Shabana Mahmood MP and the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable Dame Sue Carr. Following the Westminster Abbey service, a breakfast in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by The Lord Chancellor, brought together members of the legal profession.
The Rt. Hon. Dame Sue Carr, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and the Chief Justice
5. Those invited to the ceremony included judges from England and Wales, senior judicial officers, the Law Officers of the Crown, King’s Counsel (KCs), overseas judges and lawyers, members of the European Court and Government ministers. In attendance with the Chief Justice at the ceremony was the Acting Chief Registrar Hjh Hazarena binti POKSJ DP Hj Hurairah and senior judicial officers from the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.
6. On Wednesday 2 October 2024, the Chief Justice and delegation held bilateral meetings with the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable Dame Sue Carr, the Master of the Rolls, the Right Honourable Sir Geoffrey Vos, and the Chair of the Board of the Judicial College, the Right Honourable Dame Eleanor King at the Royal Courts of Justice. This was followed by a visit and meeting with the Chief Magistrate of England and Wales, Senior Distract Judge Paul Goldspring at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court. On Thursday 3 October 2024, the Chief Justice and delegation met with Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Lord Hodge.
7. The Chief Justice and his counterparts at the Judiciary of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of United Kingdom had fruitful discussions on areas of judicial cooperation including court administration, court technology and use of artificial intelligence, and judicial education and training.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the UK with the Chief Justice
The Chief Justice and The Rt. Hon. Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls
The Chief Justice with the delegation from the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam
SUPREME COURT OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
MONDAY 7 OCTOBER 2024
