• Owing to a shortage of judges in the Singapore Supreme Court, the Singapore Constitution was amended in 1979 to allow the appointment of Judicial Commissioners (JCs), in addition to the Supreme Court Judges.
• Unlike the permanent role of a Judge in the Supreme Court, Judicial Commissioners only serve for a specific period.
• A person may be appointed a Judicial Commissioner if he is deemed a “qualified person” under the Legal Profession Act or has been a member of the Singapore Legal Service for at least ten years, or both. Over the years, partners from major law firms and senior officers from the legal service have been appointed as JCs.
• The President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints the Judicial Commissioners. The Prime Minister is required to consult the Chief Justice before tendering his advice.

President Halimah appointed three current Judicial Commissioners as High Court Judges, and appointed a new international judge. Their appointments will commence from the first of next month. (Lianhe Zaobao, 16/7/2019)