Judiciary News and Current Issues

 

​1. Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong together with a delegation of senior judges and judicial officers from the Brunei Darussalam Judiciary attended the 8th Joint Judicial Conference (JJC) on 28 May 2025 hosted by the Singapore Judiciary.

2. The judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore meet at the biennial conference to discuss judicial and legal matters of common interest. Since its inception in 2011, the JJC provides an invaluable platform for judicial cooperation for the three Judiciaries to deepen ties by engaging in meaningful dialogue on topics of mutual importance and strengthening the already resilient and long-standing relationships that exist.

3. The theme of the 8th JJC was ‘Building a Future-Ready Judiciary’, focusing on key aspects of judicial excellence in a rapidly changing world. The three Judiciaries, each represented by their judges, showcased presentations by speakers and engaged in panel discussions on emerging issues including ‘Access to Justice and Technology: Potential and Pitfalls’, ‘Judicial Communication and Cooperation in Cross-Border Disputes’ and ‘Judicial Education, Wellbeing, and the Role of Judges in a Modern Judiciary.’

4. In his opening remarks Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong highlighted that “judiciaries must evolve, collaborate and innovate” and that the topics discussed at the conference “go to the very core of how we administer justice and they are deeply rooted in the work we do as judges, not only to uphold the rule of law but also to ensure that our justice systems remain inclusive, accessible and responsive to the evolving needs of the people we serve.”

5. The Chief Justice added that the “enduring connection between Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore reflects not only a past rooted in our common law tradition but also a close and abiding friendship”. Over 62 participants from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore attended the conference.