5. Touching on the post-pandemic legal landscape, the Chief Justice emphasized that whilst significant improvements have been made “it is to be expected that there will be a backlog of cases which were filed before or during the COVID-19 closure … [and] the backlog, if not addressed, poses not only administrative problems but also economic ones. As such, all stakeholders must assist to facilitate the prompt and efficient resolution and disposition of these disputes.”
6. The Chief Justice underscored the Judiciary’s continuing efforts to effect payments to creditors from Official Receivers’ accounts set up for bankruptcy and insolvency matters and announced that from January to October 2020, payments of composition and dividends have been declared in 430 cases totaling $17,957,779.83. He added that the number of rescission orders granted increased from 59 cases in 2019 to 147 cases as of 31 October 2020.
7. In his speech, the Chief Justice announced various initiatives for 2021, which included the formation of a committee to review pupillage training. The committee will be chaired by the Chief Registrar and will comprise of members from the Attorney General’s Chambers and Law Society who will work together to develop a comprehensive framework for the training of pupils. He said that “it is imperative that the standards and quality of training for those who wish to qualify to the Bar is regulated” and added that “improving the standard of pupillage will ensure that young lawyers will be better equipped to meet the multifaceted challenges of the legal profession.” He went on to commend senior members of the Bar for taking on pro bono cases for accused persons who cannot afford to pay for legal services and encouraged young lawyers to volunteer their services to serve the community.
8. The Chief Justice also urged the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Law Society to work together with the Judiciary to prepare a Code of Practice for the Conduct of Criminal Proceedings by the Prosecution in order to ensure due process and fair outcomes in the criminal justice process.
9. The Chief Justice’s speech was followed by speeches from the Attorney General, Yang Berhormat Haji Ahmad bin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa and the President of the Law Society, Pengiran Izad Ryan bin Pengiran Laila Kanun DiRaja Pengiran Hj Bahrin.
10. The annual event was conducted in a scaled down manner when compared to previous years to take into account social distancing measures and was attended by selected members of the legal fraternity, comprising members of the Judiciary, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Law Society.
11. The opening of the legal year ceremony was also attended by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim, Special Adviser to his Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, The Honourable Chief Syarie Judge, State Dignitaries, Members of the Legislative Council, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Senior Government Officials, members of the Judiciary from the Syariah Courts and representatives from various government enforcement agencies.
To download the Legal Year 2021 Statistics
To download the Legal Year 2021 e-book
