Singapore legislation
Regulation 23
Regulation 23
Independent counsel (O. 9, r. 23)
Subregulation 1
The Court may, on its own accord, appoint one or more independent counsel (previously called the “amicus curiae”) to assist the Court in any matter on specific issues of law.
Subregulation 2
An independent counsel may be —
(a)
a solicitor;
(b)
an academic involved in the teaching of law at present or in the past; or
(c)
a person who has special knowledge or experience in any area of law.
Subregulation 3
The Court must give directions to the independent counsel on —
(a)
the specific issues of law to be addressed by the independent counsel;
(b)
the filing and service of written submissions by the independent counsel and the parties; and
(c)
the independent counsel’s attendance in Court to make oral submissions.