Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon announced he will retire on February 26, 2027, after serving more than 14 years in the role since his appointment on November 6, 2012 [1, 2, 3, 4]. He will step down at age 64. Menon has led the Singapore Judiciary through substantial reforms including the establishment of the Appellate Division of the High Court to improve appeal processes, and he played a key role in founding the Singapore International Commercial Court and its International Committee [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Under his leadership, the Family Justice Courts and Youth Courts adopted a therapeutic justice approach to better resolve cases involving families and youth [1, 2, 6, 3, 4, 5]. He also introduced simplified divorce tracks in 2015, allowing for faster and less acrimonious proceedings [6]. Menon prioritized judicial excellence, integrity, and continuous learning, founding the Singapore Judicial College as the cornerstone of education and development for judges [1, 4, 5].
Before becoming Chief Justice, Menon was a law firm partner at 27, helped found the firm WongPartnership, and served as Attorney-General [6]. His tenure saw landmark rulings on issues such as online falsehoods, Section 377A, and the death penalty that shaped Singapore's legal framework [6]. Reflecting on his service, Menon said, "It has been a peerless privilege for me to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Singapore judiciary for almost a decade and a half. I have given it my best." [4]
Justice Sushil Sukumaran Nair will succeed Menon as Singapore's fifth Chief Justice on February 26, 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Nair joined the Bench as a Judicial Commissioner on April 1, 2025, became a High Court Judge shortly after, and was appointed to the Court of Appeal on June 15, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 5]. He has a 35-year legal career prior to joining the Judiciary, including serving as Deputy Chief Executive of Drew & Napier and heading its Corporate Restructuring and Workouts practice [2, 3, 5]. Nair will assume the role at age 62 [6].
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong praised Menon's leadership and expressed confidence in Nair, stating, "Chief Justice Menon has served Singapore with distinction over the past 14 years. Under his leadership, our Judiciary has earned the confidence of Singaporeans and the respect of the international legal community. I thank him for his exceptional service. I am confident that Justice Sushil Nair will build on these strong foundations and continue to uphold the excellence, integrity and independence of our Judiciary." [1]
Menon’s retirement and Nair’s appointment are scheduled for February 26, 2027, marking a formal transition of Singapore’s judiciary leadership [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
