Appointment of Judges of the High Court (Jun 2010)

The President has appointed Dr Philip Nalliah Pillai, age 62, Mr Quentin Loh Sze-On, age 59, and Mr Steven Chong Horng Siong, age 52, presently Judicial Commissioners, as Judges of the High Court under Article 95(1) of the Constitution with effect from 1 June 2010. They were sworn in at a ceremony held at Istana today.

Dr Pillai was appointed a Judicial Commissioner on 1 October 2009. He graduated from the National University of Singapore with First Class Honours in 1971 and thereafter joined the University’s Law Faculty, becoming its Vice Dean in 1982. He holds a Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science, both from Harvard Law School, obtained in 1973 and 1982, respectively. In 1986, Dr Pillai joined the law firm Shook Lin & Bok as a Partner and became its Managing Partner/Senior Partner from 1992 until he was appointed a Judicial Commissioner. In 2003, Dr Pillai was awarded the Singapore Public Service Star Medal on National Day.

Mr Loh was appointed a Judicial Commissioner on 1 September 2009. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1974 and began his legal career in the law firm Rodyk & Davidson in 1975. In 1979, he co-founded the law firm Cooma Lau & Loh and became its Managing Partner in 1990, a post that he held until he joined the law firm Rajah & Tann in 2001. Prior to his appointment as a Judicial Commissioner, Mr Loh was Rajah & Tann’s Deputy Managing Partner; he was also Head of its Construction and Projects Practice Group as well as its Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group. Mr Loh was appointed Senior Counsel in 1999.

Mr Chong was appointed a Judicial Commissioner on 1 October 2009. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1982 and began his legal career in the law firm Drew & Napier in 1983. In 1991, he became the Head of Drew & Napier’s Shipping Department and was also a member of its Executive Committee. He was appointed Joint Managing Partner of Drew & Napier at the end of 1997 before joining the law firm Rajah & Tann as joint Managing Partner in 1998. In 2003, he assumed the position of Managing Partner, a post that he held until his appointment as a Judicial Commissioner. Mr Chong was appointed Senior Counsel in 1998.

The appointments of Dr Pillai, Mr Loh and Mr Chong will bring the total number of Judges in the Supreme Court to eighteen.

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PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
1 JUNE 2010