Judiciary News and Current Issues

 

1. The Honourable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong attended the Opening of the Legal Year of England and Wales on Wednesday 1 October 2025.

2. This marks the second occasion on which Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong has attended the Opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales.

3. The annual ceremony signifies the start of the legal calendar and was attended by The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, The Right Honourable Dame Sue Carr alongside the Master of the Rolls, The Right Honourable Sir Geoffrey Vos, Heads of Division, Court of Appeal and High Court Judges, and judges from across England and Wales. They were joined by senior judges from Canada, France, Kazakhstan, Montenegro and Sweden.

4. Representing Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong attended the ceremony alongside His Excellency First Admiral (Retired) Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom.

5. Following the Opening of the Legal Year, Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong held a bilateral meeting with The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday 2 October 2025. They discussed ongoing and prospective areas of judicial cooperation with the aim to help promote the rule of law, improve the administration of justice and strengthen the shared legal heritage and enduring ties between the Judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam and England and Wales.