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| TIMELINESS OF JUSTICE | |
WORKLOAD STATISTICS
CASELOAD AND DISPOSAL IN 2008
In 2008, the Supreme Court received a total of 13,957 new civil and criminal matters. In the same period, a total of 13,538 matters were disposed of. The clearance rate1 for all civil and criminal matters for 2008 was 97%.
Civil Jurisdiction
Criminal Jurisdiction
CASELOAD AND DISPOSAL TRENDS
The volume of caseload in 2008 was 1% lower than that for 2007. Save for civil appellate matters, the caseload of civil matters registered a decline. Caseload for criminal matters, on the other hand, registered an increase of 10% when compared to 2007. This was attributable to a higher volume of Magistrate’s Appeals received in 2008. The number of Magistrate’s Appeals filed in 2008 increased by 16% as compared to 2007.
The clearance rate for all civil and criminal matters in 2008 was 97%, a slight decrease from 2007’s clearance rate of 99%.
A comparison of the caseload and case disposal between 2008 and 2007 is illustrated in the charts that follow.
Civil Jurisdiction
Although the above reflects the overall statistics, one significant change in 2008 has been the increase in the number of writs of summons, which occupy the bulk of the Judges’ hearing time, filed. This is the first time that writ filings have increased in 7 years.
Criminal Jurisdiction
WAITING PERIODS
Targets for waiting periods in various court processes have been set as part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to providing quality public service. These targets are reviewed annually to ensure that they are realistic and match international benchmarks. The Supreme Court endeavours to achieve 90% compliance with all targets set. For the past five years, the targets set have all been consistently achieved.
The average timelines for waiting periods achieved are set out in the tables that follow for the corresponding years of 2007 and 2008. In particular, trial dates for civil cases were given within 4 weeks of the date of set down.
ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
2. “Target achieved” refers to the average timelines attained for the year and excludes court vacations.
3. This item refers to applications for bankruptcy orders (known as bankruptcy petitions prior to April 2006) only.
4. This item refers to applications for discharge only.
ORIGINAL CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
APPELLATE CIVIL JURISDICTION
APPELLATE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
LIFESPAN OF CASES
As part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to timeliness of justice, the Supreme Court aims to dispose of 85% of the cases within 18 months from the time of filing.
For civil cases filed during the period July 2006 to June 20075 , 98% were disposed of within 18 months. The breakdown by the types of cases is shown in the diagram below.
In respect of writs (other than admiralty writs), as at 31 December 2008, there are 761 active matters pending disposal. The overall distribution of all active writs based on the calendar year filed is shown in the following diagram.
5. As at December 2008, only those cases filed in June 2007 or earlier would fall within the targeted 18-month lifespan.
CASELOAD AND DISPOSAL IN 2008
In 2008, the Supreme Court received a total of 13,957 new civil and criminal matters. In the same period, a total of 13,538 matters were disposed of. The clearance rate1 for all civil and criminal matters for 2008 was 97%.
- The percentage stated may exceed 100% when the case disposal figure is greater than the filing figure. Disposal figures may include cases filed in previous year(s) which were disposed of in the current year.
Civil Jurisdiction
Criminal Jurisdiction
CASELOAD AND DISPOSAL TRENDS
The volume of caseload in 2008 was 1% lower than that for 2007. Save for civil appellate matters, the caseload of civil matters registered a decline. Caseload for criminal matters, on the other hand, registered an increase of 10% when compared to 2007. This was attributable to a higher volume of Magistrate’s Appeals received in 2008. The number of Magistrate’s Appeals filed in 2008 increased by 16% as compared to 2007.
The clearance rate for all civil and criminal matters in 2008 was 97%, a slight decrease from 2007’s clearance rate of 99%.
A comparison of the caseload and case disposal between 2008 and 2007 is illustrated in the charts that follow.
Civil Jurisdiction
Although the above reflects the overall statistics, one significant change in 2008 has been the increase in the number of writs of summons, which occupy the bulk of the Judges’ hearing time, filed. This is the first time that writ filings have increased in 7 years.
Criminal Jurisdiction
WAITING PERIODS
Targets for waiting periods in various court processes have been set as part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to providing quality public service. These targets are reviewed annually to ensure that they are realistic and match international benchmarks. The Supreme Court endeavours to achieve 90% compliance with all targets set. For the past five years, the targets set have all been consistently achieved.
The average timelines for waiting periods achieved are set out in the tables that follow for the corresponding years of 2007 and 2008. In particular, trial dates for civil cases were given within 4 weeks of the date of set down.
ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
| Type of Proceedings |
Target set
by Department |
Target achieved2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Trials in Suits | 8 weeks from date of set down to trial | 3.6 weeks | 3.2 weeks |
| Originating Summonses (OS) | |||
| (i) Inter-partes | 5 weeks from date of filing of the OS | 4.5 weeks | 4.5 weeks |
| (ii) Ex-parte | 3 weeks from date of filing of the OS | 1.3 weeks | 1.5 weeks |
| Bankruptcy Originating Summonses3 | 6 weeks from date of filing of the OS | 5.1 weeks | 4.0 weeks |
| Company Winding-Up Originating Summonses | 4 weeks from date of filing of the OS | 3.2 weeks | 3.6 weeks |
| Probate Originating Summonses | 5 weeks from date of filing of the OS | 3.2 weeks | 3.1 weeks |
| Probate Summonses (SUM) | 4 weeks from date of filing of the SUM | 1.9 weeks | 2.5 weeks |
| Summonses | |||
| (i) Summonses before Judge & Registrar other than applications for summary judgment pursuant to Order 14 of the Rules of Court (ROC) | 3 weeks from date of filing of the SUM | Before Judge 1.4 weeks |
Before Judge 1.6 weeks |
| Before Registrar 1.0 weeks |
Before Registrar 1.2 week |
||
| (ii) Applications for summary judgment pursuant to Order 14 of the ROC | 5 weeks from date of filing of the application (statutory minimum period of 4.4 weeks) |
4.7 weeks | 4.8 weeks |
| Bankruptcy Applications (Summonses)4 | 4 weeks from date of filing of the application (statutory minimum period of 3 weeks) | 3.9 weeks | 4.0 weeks |
2. “Target achieved” refers to the average timelines attained for the year and excludes court vacations.
3. This item refers to applications for bankruptcy orders (known as bankruptcy petitions prior to April 2006) only.
4. This item refers to applications for discharge only.
ORIGINAL CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
| Type of Proceedings |
Target set
by Department |
Target achieved2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Trials of Criminal Cases | 6 weeks from date of preliminary inquiry | 5.4 weeks | 6.0 weeks |
APPELLATE CIVIL JURISDICTION
| Type of Proceedings |
Target set
by Department |
Target achieved2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Civil Appeals | |||
| (i) Civil appeals heard before 2 Judges | Ready to be heard within 12 weeks from date of notification to collect records of proceedings (ROP) | 11.9 weeks | 12.0 weeks |
| (ii) Civil appeals heard before 3 Judges | Ready to be heard within 16 weeks from date of notification to collect ROP | 15.8 weeks | 15.6 weeks |
| Registrar’s Appeals (from the High Court) | 3 weeks from date of filing of appeal | 2.0 weeks | 2.2 weeks |
| 4 weeks from date of filing of appeal (against assessment of damages) | 2.2 weeks | 2.4 weeks | |
| Appeals in Civil matters from the Subordinate Courts | 4 weeks from date of receipt of ROP | 2.8 weeks | 3.2 weeks |
APPELLATE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
| Type of Proceedings |
Target set
by Department |
Target achieved2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Criminal Appeals | 8 weeks after the week of receipt of the last confirmation of the ROP | 5.4 weeks | 7.4 weeks |
| Appeals in Criminal matters from the Subordinate Courts | 8 weeks from date of receipt of ROP | 5.4 weeks | 5.0 weeks |
LIFESPAN OF CASES
As part of the Supreme Court’s commitment to timeliness of justice, the Supreme Court aims to dispose of 85% of the cases within 18 months from the time of filing.
For civil cases filed during the period July 2006 to June 20075 , 98% were disposed of within 18 months. The breakdown by the types of cases is shown in the diagram below.
In respect of writs (other than admiralty writs), as at 31 December 2008, there are 761 active matters pending disposal. The overall distribution of all active writs based on the calendar year filed is shown in the following diagram.
5. As at December 2008, only those cases filed in June 2007 or earlier would fall within the targeted 18-month lifespan.
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