Family Justice Courts to move to iconic octagonal building in Havelock by November
This iconic octagonal building heard its last case in 2019, and was refurbished thereafter in preparation for the Family Justice Courts to take over
The Family Justice Courts (FJC) will be moving its operations to new premises – the former State Courts’ building in Havelock Square – by the end of November. The iconic octagonal building, which was gazetted as a conserved building in 2013, heard its last case in 2019, and was refurbished thereafter in preparation for the FJC to take over. It is more than three times the size of the premises currently occupied by the FJC, a building at 3 Havelock Square and a unit at the MND Complex in Maxwell Road.
The FJC said on Oct 21 that the move will allow it to meet its caseload. With the move, the number of courtrooms will increase from 12 to 25 and the number of hearing rooms from 23 to 52. On Oct 21, the FJC, which comprises the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts, celebrated its 10th anniversary at its new premises.
At the event, it also launched its model for therapeutic justice, which involves a process led by a judge in which parties and their lawyers, along with other professionals, work together to find timely and enduring solutions to family disputes within the framework of the law. An FJC spokesperson told The Straits Times that the increase in space at the new premises will allow the courts to provide specialised facilities that address the needs of their users. They include child-friendly interview rooms, quiet rooms for distressed individuals, and vulnerable witness rooms to allow for remote testimony in hearings.
Family Justice Courts to move to iconic octagonal building in Havelock by November
Bigger refurbished premises will allow it to meet caseload, provide specialised facilities
The Family Justice Courts (FJC) will be moving its operations to new premises – the former State Courts’ building in Havelock Square – by the end of November.
The iconic octagonal building, which was gazetted as a conserved building in 2013, heard its last case in 2019, and was refurbished thereafter in preparation for the FJC to take over. It is more than three times the size of the premises currently occupied by the FJC, a building at 3 Havelock Square and a unit at the MND Complex in Maxwell Road.
The FJC said on Oct 21 that the move will allow it to meet its caseload. With the move, the number of courtrooms will increase from 12 to 25 and the number of hearing rooms from 23 to 52. On Oct 21, the FJC, which comprises the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts, celebrated its 10th anniversary at its new premises.
Iconic State Courts building in Havelock Square celebrates 40th anniversary
The State Courts building at No. 1 Havelock Square on 19June 2014
The State Courts' iconic octagonal building in Havelock Square marked its 40th anniversary on Tuesday. At an event held there to mark the occasion, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who is abroad, sent his greetings in a video message. He said: "I am grateful to the judges, the judicial officers and the staff of the State Courts for the immense contribution they have each made in helping us to deliver a system of justice that is fair, accessible and affordable.
"For the last 40 years, they have done their work in this building and it has become a landmark in Singapore and achieved conservation status." The building, which was known as the Subordinate Courts building until March last year, when it was renamed, began operating on 15 Sep 1975 and centralised various courthouses around Singapore.
These included the Criminal District and Magistrates' court which were located in South Bridge Road; the Traffic Courts which were housed in the former Sepoy Lines Police Station in Outram; and the Civil District Courts which operated out of the old Parliament Building and the Supreme Court Building in St Andrew's Road.
A new State Courts Complex is under construction. When it is completed in 2019, the current State Courts building will be retrofitted for the Family Justice Courts to be operate out of the old building in 2023. The new State Courts Complex, located in front of the current State Courts building, will be thrice as big and will house over 60 courtrooms and more than 50 hearing chambers.
State Courts to start moving to new State Courts Towers building from Dec 9
The State Courts will fully operate in its new premises (above) from 16 Dec 2019
The State Courts will move to its new home next month, the courts said in a statement on Friday (Nov 29).
From Dec 9, it will start relocating to the new State Courts Towers from its current octagonal building, and will fully operate in its new premises from Dec 16.
The new 35-storey towers, which are next to the State Courts' existing building in Havelock Square, are fitted with 53 courtrooms and 54 hearing chambers. This is an increase from 37 courtrooms and 40 chambers in the existing nine-storey State Courts building.
State Courts Building at 1 Havelock Square closes after 44 years; New State Courts Tower fully operational from 16 Dec
The iconic State Courts Building at 1 Havelock Square closed its doors on Friday (13 Dec) after 44 memorable years of operations since it was built in 1975. The State Courts held a ceremony at the State Courts Atrium – a favourite meeting point for lawyers, court users and staff and a place that has witnessed numerous events in the State Courts, including the renaming of the State Courts from “Subordinate Courts” in 2014.
Besides the judges and staff of the State Courts, representatives of their stakeholder agencies such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore Police Force, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Community Justice Centre, and the Bar were also present to bid farewell to this courthouse that has partnered them in delivering justice to the people of Singapore for over four decades. Presiding Judge of the State Courts, Justice See Kee Oon said, “The then Subordinate Courts commenced operations on 15 September 1975 in this building, consolidating the various courts that were formerly scattered throughout various locations. The eight-sided building’s uniquely modern and commanding presence stood in sharp contrast with the neighbouring buildings in Chinatown. This was clearly a modern courthouse of its time and the building has certainly served us well over the last 44 years.”
The judges and staff of the State Courts celebrated the beginning of a new chapter of their judicial journey with a march, led by Justice See Kee Oon, Presiding Judge of the State Courts, to the adjacent State Courts Towers, where they will continue with their mission to serve society with quality judgments, timely dispute resolution and excellent court services.
State Courts bid farewell to home of 44 years, 'engine room' of Singapore's judicial system
The octagonal building of the State Courts at 1 Havelock Square
Forty-four years after setting up operations in the distinctive eight-sided building in Havelock Square, the State Courts bid farewell on Friday (Dec 13) to its home, described by the presiding judge as the "engine room" of Singapore's judicial system.
Addressing a crowd of about 450 people comprising lawyers, judges, judicial officers and court employees, Justice See Kee Oon said the building, which opened its doors on Sep 15, 1975, had served well over the decades.
He described how the nine-storey building presented some challenges with its "distinctive character" when it first opened, and how navigating its spaces took him some time to get used to.
Sense of nostalgia for judges as State Courts move to new premises after 44 years
Justice See Kee Oon (centre), Presiding Judge of the State Courts, and Ms Jennifer Marie (right of Justice See), Deputy Presiding Judge of the State Courts, leading a procession out of the old State Courts building to the adjacent State Courts Towers, after a ceremony to mark the closing of the courthouse after 44 years
After 44 years and countless criminal and civil cases, judges and staff of the State Courts have bid farewell to their old building as they move into the new 35-storey State Courts Towers next door.
And while the modern new premises — comprising a court tower and an office tower — are well equipped to handle the rising number of cases, some in the legal fraternity including judges will miss the intimacy of the old building, which opened in September 1975.
Deputy Principal District Judge of the Civil Justice Division Wong Peck, who has been presiding over cases there for 16 years, told TODAY on Friday (Dec 13) that she will miss the “cosy” feel of the building, which allowed her to interact with her colleagues more easily.
