Retirement of Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Appointment of Justice Sushil Nair as Singapore's 5th Chief Justice

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will be retiring on 26 February 2027 after more than 14 years of distinguished service as Singapore’s Chief Justice.

The President, acting in his discretion and in concurrence with the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed Justice Sushil Sukumaran Nair, Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court, as the 5^th Chief Justice of Singapore with effect from 26 February 2027. 

Since his appointment as Chief Justice on 6 November 2012, Chief Justice Menon has led the Singapore Judiciary through a period of significant transformation. The Judiciary strengthened its institutional foundations, modernised the administration of justice, improved access to justice, and reinforced public confidence in the rule of law.

Chief Justice Menon oversaw major reforms to strengthen the Courts’ capabilities. He led its digital transformation and established the Appellate Division of the High Court, enabling appeals to be heard and resolved more efficiently. He also played a key role in developing the Singapore International Commercial Court and its International Committee, strengthening Singapore's position as a trusted centre for international dispute resolution.

In addition, under Chief Justice Menon’s leadership, the Family Justice Courts and the Youth Courts embraced a therapeutic justice approach, transforming the way family and youth cases are heard and resolved. By bringing together judges and counsellors in multidisciplinary teams, the Courts have been better able to address the underlying causes of conflict, while delivering fair and effective outcomes. 

Throughout his tenure, Chief Justice Menon placed strong emphasis on judicial excellence, integrity and continuous learning. He established the Singapore Judicial College as the cornerstone of judicial education, strengthening professional development across the Judiciary. 

Justice Sushil Nair joined the Bench as Judicial Commissioner on 1 April 2025. He was subsequently appointed a High Court Judge, and on 15 June 2026, a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Before joining the Judiciary, he had a distinguished 35-year legal career, serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Drew & Napier LLC, and Head of its Corporate Restructuring and Workouts practice group. He is widely recognised as a leading authority on complex commercial and cross-border cases in the Asia-Pacific.

Beyond legal practice, Justice Nair has also made significant contributions in public service. He received the Friends of Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY) Award in 2022 for his role in the team that negotiated the takeover of the Singapore Sports Hub by Sport Singapore. In 2023, he was awarded Singapore’s Public Service Star (COVID-19) for his contributions to the conceptualisation of Singapore's COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill, which provided critical relief to businesses and individuals impacted by the pandemic. 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, “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."

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PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
SINGAPORE
17 JULY 2026

Valedictory Letter from PM Lawrence Wong to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon [PDF, 919.26 KB]