Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon to retire in 2027, Justice Sushil Nair appointed Singapore's fifth Chief Justice

SINGAPORE: Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will retire on 26 February 2027 after more than 14 years as Singapore's top judge, with Justice Sushil Sukumaran Nair appointed to succeed him as the nation's fifth Chief Justice.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the President, acting in his discretion and in concurrence with the advice of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, appointed Justice Nair, currently a Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court, with effect from 26 February 2027.

Judiciary transformation under Menon

Chief Justice Menon, 64, has led the Judiciary since 6 November 2012, overseeing what PMO described as a period of significant transformation.

According to PMO, the Judiciary strengthened its institutional foundations, modernised the administration of justice, improved access to justice and reinforced public confidence in the rule of law.

Menon also spearheaded major reforms to strengthen the courts' capabilities, including driving their digital transformation and establishing the Appellate Division of the High Court to enable 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.

Under his leadership, the Family Justice Courts and Youth Courts adopted a therapeutic justice approach.

"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," PMO said.

Menon also emphasised judicial excellence, integrity and continuous learning throughout his tenure, establishing the Singapore Judicial College as the cornerstone of judicial education to strengthen professional development across the Judiciary.

Prime Minister pays tribute

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong praised Menon's contributions over the past 14 years.

"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," he said.

The Prime Minister added: "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."

Successor brings extensive legal experience

Justice Nair joined the Bench as Judicial Commissioner on 1 April 2025 before being appointed a High Court Judge. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 15 June 2026.

Before entering the Judiciary, he spent 35 years in legal practice, serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Drew & Napier LLC and Head of its Corporate Restructuring and Workouts practice group.

PMO said he is widely recognised as a leading authority on complex commercial and cross-border cases in the Asia-Pacific.

Justice Nair has also contributed to public service. In 2022, he received the Friends of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Award for his role in the team that negotiated Sport Singapore's takeover of the Singapore Sports Hub.

In 2023, he was awarded Singapore's Public Service Star (COVID-19) for contributing to the conceptualisation of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill, which provided relief to businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic.