A judge should possess honesty and compassion, according to former judge Mr Choo. He emphasized the importance of listening and avoiding personal bias in legal proceedings.
Qualities of a Good Judge
Mr Choo stated that a good judge will naturally become a good listener if they are honest and compassionate. He explained that a judge should strive to understand all sides of a case without allowing personal views to influence their judgment.
Litigants, he noted, may forgive a judge they perceive as unintelligent, but they would never forgive a judge they believe is biased.
The Difficulty of Certainty
Mr Choo identified determining the correct decision as the most challenging aspect of being a judge. He acknowledged that absolute certainty is often unattainable, even with careful consideration of evidence.
He illustrated this point with the example of child custody cases, stating that a judge can never fully know the true dynamics of a family. While judges should base their decisions on available evidence and aim for sound judgment, complete assurance remains elusive.
His personal guiding principle as a judge was to consider the perspectives of all parties involved – both the complainant/victim and the accused.
Reflections on M Ravi
Mr Choo shared his positive impressions of the late lawyer M Ravi, describing him as a human rights lawyer who never caused him difficulties. He recalled Mr. Ravi’s sense of humor and a book he gifted him, “Hung At Dawn.”
Mr. Choo recounted a playful exchange with Mr. Ravi regarding the book’s title, noting the proper usage of “hanged” versus “hung” in relation to humans and objects. Mr. Ravi responded with a witty observation about Singapore’s legal practices.
Mr. Choo added that he never witnessed a negative side of Mr. Ravi. Reflecting on the experience, he concluded, “That’s the thing I learned about judging, and that is not to judge.”
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