SINGAPORE: Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and former chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) Eddie Teo were conferred Singapore’s highest civilian honour on Sunday (Aug 9).The two men head this year’s list of National Day Awards recipients after receiving the Order of Temasek (With Distinction), or Darjah Utama Temasek.The honour, instituted in 1962, is conferred by the president on the advice of the prime minister.Chief Justice Menon and Mr Teo are among 7,491 recipients recognised for their contributions to Singapore this year, including 6,624 civilian recipients and 867 military personnel.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon speaking during the Legal Profession Symposium 2026 on Jul 29, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)
After being called to the Singapore Bar, Chief Justice Menon practised as an advocate before serving as a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court from 2006 to 2007.He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008, Singapore's sixth Attorney-General in 2010 and the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on Nov 6, 2012.He will retire on Feb 26, 2027, after more than 14 years of service.Chief Justice Menon oversaw major reforms to strengthen the courts' capabilities, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said when announcing his retirement. These included leading the courts' digital transformation and establishing the Appellate Division of the High Court, enabling appeals to be heard and resolved more efficiently.The Family Justice Courts and the Youth Courts also "embraced a therapeutic justice approach, transforming the way family and youth cases are heard and resolved", PMO added.“Chief Justice Menon has served Singapore with distinction over the past 14 years,” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.“Under his leadership, our Judiciary has earned the confidence of Singaporeans and the respect of the international legal community.”
