Procedure to change the court date in Supreme Court Singapore?

If parties miss court dates without good cause, they may suffer repercussions. If you are a party to a matter being handled by the Supreme Court, a State Court, or a Family Justice Court (FJC), you are obligated to appear at all scheduled court appearances unless the court orders otherwise. You must complete both of the following if you have good cause to be absent on the specified date and time for court:

• If you want the case continued later, let the court know in advance.
• Explain why you need to change the date of your court appearance.

See the list below for information on how to ask to have your court date changed in the relevant courts.

1. State Courts

The process for requesting to change a court date will vary depending on the nature of your case.

For criminal cases

Before submitting your request for a change in hearing date in a criminal case, you must first have the Public Prosecutor’s approval. Additionally, the Public Prosecutor must be copied on all of your correspondence with the court.

One of the following methods may be used to submit your request to modify your court date:

• Via email to Supcourt_Registry@supcourt.gov.sg.
• Via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Your application will be sent to the appropriate court for review once it is submitted. If your application is accepted, the revised day and time you and your bailor (if any) must appear in court will be sent to you through email and regular mail.

You will be informed via email and post to appear in court on the scheduled day if your application is denied.

If you do not attend court

• If you fail to appear in court, a warrant for your arrest might be issued.
• Your bailor must explain to the court their reasonable attempts in performing their bailor obligations if you fail to appear in court while free on bail (also known as jumping bail). Your bailor could lose the money or property they put up as security if the court does not accept their justifications.

For civil cases

• Depending on the sort of court session you must attend, different procedures must be followed to adjourn or conclude a hearing. Before asking for an adjournment or vacation of a hearing date, if you are representing yourself, you should have the other parties’ approval.

For civil trials

To request a hearing date modification if you are representing yourself in a civil trial, you must submit the following via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau:

• A summons
• an affidavit in support of your application that explains your justifications.

The outcome of your request to postpone or end the hearing will be communicated to you by the court. You will be given a new hearing date if your application is approved.

You must appear in court on the designated day if your application is rejected or if you do not hear back regarding the outcome of your application.

For any other hearings

To request a hearing date change if you are defending yourself in any proceeding other than a civil trial or any case before the Court of Appeal or the Appellate Division, you must submit the following documents via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau:

Your request should:

• Give a justification for adjourning or terminating the hearing.
• Indicate whether all other parties to the matter have given their consent.
• Any pertinent correspondence between the parties should be included in your request as an attachment.
• If the approval of one or more parties cannot be acquired, the request should state why the other parties are objecting or why they are unable to gain the consent of one or more of the other parties.
• be submitted at least two working days before the scheduled hearing.
• The outcome of your request to postpone or end the hearing will be communicated to you by the court. You will be given a new court date if your application is approved.
• You must appear in court on the designated day if your application is rejected or if you do not hear back regarding the outcome of your application.

If you do not attend court

If you fail to appear at a hearing, the court may conduct the hearing without you and issue any orders the court sees fit. The following are just a few examples of the orders the court may issue:

• (For court cases or pre-trial discussions) If you are the plaintiff, the court may reject your claim or render a default decision against you (if you are the defendant).
• If you are the applicant (for other applications), the court may reject your application or allow the application made against you (if you are the respondent).