Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong attended the opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales on October 1, marking the first time a head of the Brunei judiciary participated in the ceremony.
The opening of the Legal Year is a long-standing tradition in England and Wales, symbolising the beginning of the judicial calendar.
Accompanying the Chief Justice were Acting Chief Registrar Hajah Hazarena binti POKSJ DP Haji Hurairah and senior judicial officers from the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.
Following the ceremony, The chief justice and his delegation also engaged in bilateral meetings with top legal figures, including Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales Dame Sue Carr, Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos, and Chair of the Judicial College Dame Eleanor King, at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The meetings focused on key areas of judicial cooperation such as court administration, judicial education, and the integration of artificial intelligence into court technology.
The chief justice also met with Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 2 and with Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court Lord Hodge on October 3.
The discussions during these meetings centered on strengthening judicial collaboration, advancing court administration practices, and enhancing judicial education and training, marking a fruitful exchange between Brunei and the judiciary of the United Kingdom. – Fadley Faisal
