The Honourable Justice

Judge

A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

 Belinda Ang Saw Ean is a judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore

Judicial system of Singapore

The full Judicial power in Singapore is vested in the Supreme Court as well as subordinate courts by the Constitution of Singapore. The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. The Court of Appeal exercises appellate criminal and civil jurisdiction, while the High Court...

. Justice Ang was first appointed Judicial Commissioner

Judicial Commissioner

A Judicial Commissioner in Singapore is appointed to the Supreme Court by the President of Singapore on the advice of the Prime Minister, and has the powers of a Judge. A person may be appointed a Judicial Commissioner if he/she has been a "qualified person" within the meaning of section 2 of the...

 in February 2002, and Judge in January 2003. Prior to these appointments, she was a lawyer

Lawyer

A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...

 and held the title of Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel

The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...

.

Allegations against Justice Ang

On 31 May 2008, an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 blogger and ex-member of the Workers' Party

Workers' Party of Singapore

The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...

, Gopalan Nair, was arrested for comments he allegedly made to Justice Ang in an email sent to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General. He accused Ang of "prostituting herself" as a judge during a hearing involving the Singapore Democratic Party

Singapore Democratic Party

The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...

. Nair was charged under section 228 of the Penal Code, and sentenced to three months imprisonment.

External links

• Supreme Court of Singapore website - includes pictures of the Justices'