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Supreme Court opens its doors to public with quirky mock trials
By Mayo Martin, TODAY | Posted: 06 March 2009 1213 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: Who really killed Humpty Dumpty?
A mock criminal trial featuring suspects like the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood and, er, Blind Mouse Satu is one of the quirky highlights at The Living Courthouse, a public event held at the Supreme Court on March 14 and 15.
The weekend open-house event marks the first time the Supreme Court opens its doors to the public in its new premises — at 1 Supreme Court Lane — in hopes of “demystifying” the institution, said senior assistant registrar Sharon Lim.
Visitors can also witness mock civil and criminal proceedings inside actual courtrooms, join in regular 30-minute tours of the building, an exhibition debunking various “stereotypes” in Singapore courts, as well as attend legal talks and clinics by the Law Society of Singapore.
For a more memorable souvenir of their “day in court”, there are photo opportunities where one can dress up in a lawyer’s robe (wigs are optional) or be photographed as a criminal.
The event is being held to lessen “anxiety” that people have about the courts and to show that “courts are not such a forbidding place”, explained corporate affairs assistant director Desiree Pang.
For the 30-minute “Humpty” trial, the enactments will be performed by court staff — in full costume. There will also be a cordoned off “crime scene” within the building.
There’s also a “blog” by the hapless egg-headed victim on the event website, www.thelivingcourthouse.gov.sg.
But don’t expect any hysterics or courtroom dramatic moments ala Boston Legal or LA Law. “What we want to do is not to focus on the story behind the facts but the processes,” said Lim.
- TODAY/yb
Supreme Court opens its doors to public with quirky mock trials
By Mayo Martin, TODAY | Posted: 06 March 2009 1213 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
SINGAPORE: Who really killed Humpty Dumpty?
A mock criminal trial featuring suspects like the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood and, er, Blind Mouse Satu is one of the quirky highlights at The Living Courthouse, a public event held at the Supreme Court on March 14 and 15.
The weekend open-house event marks the first time the Supreme Court opens its doors to the public in its new premises — at 1 Supreme Court Lane — in hopes of “demystifying” the institution, said senior assistant registrar Sharon Lim.
Visitors can also witness mock civil and criminal proceedings inside actual courtrooms, join in regular 30-minute tours of the building, an exhibition debunking various “stereotypes” in Singapore courts, as well as attend legal talks and clinics by the Law Society of Singapore.
For a more memorable souvenir of their “day in court”, there are photo opportunities where one can dress up in a lawyer’s robe (wigs are optional) or be photographed as a criminal.
The event is being held to lessen “anxiety” that people have about the courts and to show that “courts are not such a forbidding place”, explained corporate affairs assistant director Desiree Pang.
For the 30-minute “Humpty” trial, the enactments will be performed by court staff — in full costume. There will also be a cordoned off “crime scene” within the building.
There’s also a “blog” by the hapless egg-headed victim on the event website, www.thelivingcourthouse.gov.sg.
But don’t expect any hysterics or courtroom dramatic moments ala Boston Legal or LA Law. “What we want to do is not to focus on the story behind the facts but the processes,” said Lim.
- TODAY/yb
