Topic 9: Courts Flashcards
What is the highest amount of claims that can be heard in the Magistrate’s Court?
$60k max
What is the highest amount of claims that can be heard in the District Court?
$250k max
But $500k max for personal injury claims arising from industrial accidents or road accidents
What is the highest amount of claims that can be heard in the Small Claims Tribunal?
$20k max, $30k if parties agree
Before the judgement was given, Sally and John lawyers agreed that the District Court’s decision would be final. John loses and wants to appeal. Can he do so?
No. No appeal shall lie from any judgment or order of a District Court exercising civil jurisdiction if, before the judgment or order is given or made, the parties agree in writing signed by them or their solicitors that it shall be final.
Sally wants to sue John for negligence. She claims $260,000. Which court can she file a suit in?
General Division of High Court ($250k and more)
Sally wants to sue John for breach of contract. She claims $65,000. Which court can she file a suit in?
District Court ($60k- $250k)
Sally wants to sue her employer for a personal injury arising out of industrial accidents. She claims $499K. Which court can she file a suit in?
District Court (up to $500k if personal injury arising from industrial accidents or road accidents)
Parker (15 year old) is caught trespassing the top floor of Downtown East. The management wants to sue him for trespass. Which court can they file a suit in?
Youth Court
Parker’s mom is unhappy with the decision of the Youth Court and wants to appeal. Which court will hear her appeal?
Family Division of the High Court
What is the maximum sentencing of a District Court?
A DC may pass the following maximum sentences:
Jail not more than 10 years
Fine not exceeding $30K
Caning not exceeding 12 strokes
(s. 303(2), CPC)
What is the maximum sentencing of a Magistrate Court?
A MC may pass the following maximum sentences:
Jail not more than 3 years
Fine not exceeding $10K
Caning not exceeding 6 strokes
(s. 303(3), CPC)
What does the word ‘jurisdiction’ mean?
The court’s power to hear disputes
The capacity in which it hears a case
The power it has to punish for an offence
When a court hears a case for the first time, it is said to be exercising _______ jurisdiction. When it hears a case on appeal, it exercises ________ jurisdiction
original jurisdiction
appellate jurisdiction
The Court of Appeal has only appellate jurisdiction. True or False?
True
The Magistrates’ Courts have only original jurisdiction and no appellate jurisdiction.
True
What are the constitutional safeguards in play for judges?
Tenure till 65
Cannot be removed except on grounds of infirmity, incapacity or gross misconduct
When was the Judicial Commissioner scheme first introduced? Why was it introduced?
First introduced in 1979.
To ease the shortage of judges on the bench.
The Court of Appeal can be heard by two, five or any greater uneven number of Judges. True or False?
True
The Court of Appeal will not re-examine witnesses, documents and other materials tendered in the trial of the case. True or False?
True
The General Division of the High Court can hear appeals from the decisions of District Courts and Magistrates’ Courts in civil and criminal cases. True or False?
True
What are the qualifications of a High Court judge?
Same as Court of Appeal (all under Supreme Court)
- No less than 10 years as a Qualified Person or
- No less than 10 years as a member of the Singapore Legal Service
What kind of cases do the Appellate Division hear?
Civil appeals not allocated to the Court of Appeal under the Sixth Schedule
No criminal cases (it has no jurisdiction over criminal cases)
Haisheng committed murder. His case will be tried at the High Court because it has original jurisdiction.
Yes. Murder carries death penalty / life imprisonment, so original jurisdiction lies in the General Division.
What jurisdiction does the Appellate Division have?
Civil jurisdiction.
- Appeals against any decisions made by General Decision outside of the Sixth Schedule
- Any appeal that any written law provides is to lie within the Appellate Division
No criminal jurisdiction.
(s. 35 SCJA)
Rena wants to appeal against a decision made by the Appellate Division. Rena must obtain leave of Court of Appeal to do so. True or False?
True. It needs to be granted leave from Court of Appeal first.
Which of the following is true?
I. The Court of Appeal will only grant leave if the appeal will raise a point of public importance.
II. The Court of Appeal is not required to grant leave even if the appeal will raise a point of law of public importance.
III. The Court of Appeal will rely on the Rules of Court when deciding whether to grant leave
IV. The Court of Appeal will rely on the Rules of Court when deciding if an appeal will raise a point of law of public importance
I, II, III and IV.
s. 47 SCJA
What jurisdiction does the District Court have?
Criminal jurisdiction
- Try any criminal offence that does not exceed 10 years of imprisonment
- Try any fine-only offence
- All the powers of a Magistrate Court
Note: While the District Court has limits on sentencing (up to $30K), all offences in the Penal Code that are fine-only (no imprisonment) do not carry fines that exceed $30K. So effectively, any fine-only sentences can definitely come within District Court.
(s8, CPC)
What jurisdiction does the Magistrates’ Court have?
Criminal jurisdiction
- Try any criminal offence that does not exceed 5 years of imprisonment
- Try any fine-only offence
- Summon and examine witnesses
- Issue warrants for witnesses
- Issue warrants to search premises
- Require any person to furnish security for keeping the peace or to ensure good behaviour
- Order medical examination of a person to ascertain mental or physical condition
(s7, CPC)
What CRIMINAL jurisdiction does the General Division have?
Criminal jurisdiction
1. Any offence and can pass any sentence in law
But generally, those exceeding 10 years of max sentence since any lower will be handled by the lower Courts.
Murder, culpable homicide, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons
etc.
Appellate criminal jurisdiction
- Appeals from DC or MC
- Appeals on points of law reserved by special cases submitted by DC or MC
- Appeals from Family Courts
- Appeals from Youth Courts
(s. 19 SCJA)
Does the Court of Appeal hear all appeals from the High Court (General Division)?
Civil jurisdiction
- Any appeal from the General Division under the Sixth Schedule
- Any appeal from the Appellate Division
- Any appeal that any written law provides to lie in the Court of Appeal
(s. 53, SCJA)
It can also transfer any appeals made to the Appellate Division (meaning outside of Sixth Schedule) to itself
(s. 29D, SCJA)
It can also transfer any appeals made to the Court of Appeal (meaning within of Sixth Schedule) to the Appellate Division
(s. 29E, SCJA)
What CIVIL jurisdiction does the General Division have?
Civil jurisdiction
1. Any civil claim, but in general, only those exceeding $250K as any lower will be handled by the lower Courts
Appellate civil jurisdiction
- Appeals from DC or MC of a quasi-criminal or civil nature
- Appeals from Family Courts of quasi-criminal or civil nature
- Appeals from tribunals
(s. 20 SCJA)
Rachel wants to appeal against a decision made by the District Court. Rachel must obtain the following:
I. Leave from District Court
II. Leave from General Division of High Court
Which leave must she obtain or can either leave work?
Either one also can.
s.21(1), SCJA
Rachel is not successful in obtaining leave from the General Division. Can she appeal against this decision?
No. An order of the General Division giving or refusing leave is final.
(s. 21(2a), SCJA)
John caused grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or
means and can face up till 15 years of imprisonment. His case will be tried in which court?
General Division (High Court)
What CRIMINAL jurisdiction does the Court of Appeal have?
Criminal jurisdiction
- Any appeal from the General Division
- It must confirm any decision made by the General Division to impose the death penalty
Remember, Appellate Division has no criminal jurisdiction
(s.60D, CJA)
What is the maximum sentencing of the General Division of the High Court?
Any sentence authorized by law.
Torture not allowed obviously. So is forced rape. Or eating a bowl of maggots.
When and how did the highest court for Singapore cases become the Court of Appeal?
1994, with the passage of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Repeal Act
What are the qualifications of a District Judge?
No less than 5 years as a Qualified Person
District Judges have security of tenure and security of remuneration. True or False?
False. THEY HAVE NO TENURE. NO SECURITY.
What are the qualifications of a Magistrate?
- At least 1 year as a Qualified Person
How does the Family Court promote mediation?
The Family Court may order any party or any child who is the subject of proceedings to undergo mediation or counselling
The Family Court is presided by…
A District Judge or a Magistrate who is designated by CJ as a judge of the Family Court
(s 13 FJA)