The Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam officially opened the Legal Year 2026 today, marking the start of the new judicial calendar and setting out key priorities for the year ahead.
The annual ceremony brought together members of the Judiciary and the legal fraternity and began with a traditional Guard of Honour parade by the Royal Brunei Police Force, inspected by Supreme Court Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong.
In his address, the Chief Justice reviewed the Judiciary’s work and reforms over the past year and outlined strategic priorities for 2026, placing emphasis on the Judiciary’s contribution to Brunei Darussalam’s Vision 2035. He said an efficient, effective and competent Judiciary that resolves commercial disputes promptly is essential in fostering confidence among investors and businesses.
Judicial integrity and predictability, he noted, reduce commercial risks, encourage entrepreneurship and signal to the global business community that Brunei Darussalam is a trustworthy and attractive destination for investment.
Referring to World Bank data, the Chief Justice said Brunei Darussalam’s rule of law percentile rank stood at 79 per cent as of 2023, meaning the country scores higher than approximately 79 per cent of countries worldwide in perceived rule of law, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, policing and the courts. He said this places Brunei favourably among regional counterparts such as Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong SAR and South Korea.
Outlining key developments over the past year, the Chief Justice said work is underway on an upgraded Judiciary Case Management System, JCMS 2.0, with a targeted launch in 2027. Civil procedure reforms are ongoing, with comprehensive studies reviewing the Rules of the Supreme Court, while insolvency reform remains a priority through a committee tasked with reviewing the current bankruptcy and insolvency framework. Family justice initiatives have also progressed, with working groups examining divorce, adoption and juvenile court processes.
On caseload trends for 2025, the High Court recorded an increase in civil filings alongside a broadly stable criminal caseload. The Intermediate Court continued to manage a significant workload, particularly in commercial matters, with a slight rise in criminal cases. The Magistrate’s Court continued to bear the largest share of cases, with notable increases in criminal filings across all districts, except for road traffic cases which declined overall. A high number of receiving orders, adjudication orders and company winding-up orders were granted in bankruptcy and insolvency matters, while the Civil Marriage Registry recorded an increase in marriage registrations and a corresponding decline in divorce petitions.
The Chief Justice said the figures illustrate the breadth of the Judiciary’s work and the sustained demand on court services and resources.
International and regional judicial cooperation also featured prominently in 2025. Among the key milestones highlighted was the renewal of a memorandum of understanding on judicial cooperation between the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam and the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China. The Judiciary also participated in major forums including the Pacific Judicial Conference, the Joint Judicial Conference between Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore, and multilateral engagements through the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices and the ASEAN Law Association. Bilateral cooperation with Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom continued through professional exchanges and visits.
The Chief Justice also updated on the work of the Joint Legal Affairs Committee, comprising the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Law Society. Achievements included the completion of the second edition of the Personal Injury Award Guidelines, progress on amendments to the Legal Profession Act and Rules, and the endorsement of a pilot Court Friends Scheme aimed at improving access to justice for litigants in person.
Looking ahead, initiatives for 2026 include enhanced student engagement through a proposed Open Day in Court programme, a pilot Judicial Internship Programme, reform of juvenile justice with an emphasis on rehabilitation and restorative practices, and the development of guidelines on the responsible use of artificial intelligence by court users. Guidance on admission to the Bar will also be reviewed in collaboration with the Law Society.
In concluding, the Chief Justice said the effective administration of justice is a collective undertaking, expressing appreciation to judges, judicial officers, court staff, the legal profession and law enforcement agencies for their continued dedication in upholding the rule of law.
Speeches were also delivered by Attorney General Datin Seri Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah Haji Mohammed Taib, and Law Society Vice President On Hung Zheng, on behalf of Law Society President Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa.
The ceremony was attended by senior ministers, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II; Chief Syarie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Salim Haji Besar; and Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian Haji Sabtu, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Law), along with members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, enforcement agencies and students from educational institutions.