Family Justice Courts set to move to Havelock building by end-Nov

Bigger refurbished premises will allow it to meet caseload, provide specialised facilities

- Samuel Devaraj

The Family Justice Courts (FJC) will be moving its operations to new premises - the former State Courts' building in Havelock Square - by the end of November.

The iconic octagonal building, which was gazetted as a conserved building in 2013, heard its last case in 2019, and was refurbished thereafter in preparation for the FJC to take over.

It is more than three times the size of the premises currently occupied by the FJC, a building at 3 Havelock Square and a unit at the MND Complex in Maxwell Road.

The FJC said on Oct 21 that the move will allow it to meet its caseload.

With the move, the number of courtrooms will increase from 12 to 25 and the number of hearing rooms from 23 to 52.

On Oct 21, the FJC, which comprises the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts, celebrated its 10th anniversary at its new premises.

At the event, it also launched its model for therapeutic justice, which involves a process led by a judge in which parties and their lawyers, along with other professionals, work together to find timely and enduring solutions to family disputes within the framework of the law.

An FJC spokesperson told The Straits Times that the increase in space at the new premises will allow the courts to provide specialised facilities that address the needs of their users.