ASEAN LAW ASSOCIATION: Office Holders

Chairman, ALA Thailand

Hon. Chief Justice Sobchok Sukharomna

The Honorable Chief Justice Sobchok Sukharomna was born in October 16th, 1948. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree with honors from Thammasat University in 1970. He qualified as a barrister-at-law of the Institute of Legal Education, the Thai Bar in 1971. In 1980, he won a Fulbright Scholarship to further his study in the U.S. and attended Southern Methodist University (Dedman Law School) where he earned a Master of Comparative Law in 1981.

He began his professional career as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law Ramkhamhaeng University. Armed with his excellent academic qualifications, he commenced his judicial career as a judge-trainee in 1974. He then became a judge of the Nakhorn Sri Thammarat Provincial Court. In the early years, his responsibility in the courts of first instance consisted mainly of both criminal and civil works. Later, he was appointed Chief Judge of the Phuket Provincial Court. Soon after, he also worked as a Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court and Justice of the Appeal Court. He became a Presiding Justice of the Appeal Court, Justice of the Supreme Court, Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Environmental Division of the Supreme Court from 1990 to 2007 respectively. He devotes himself to judicial service for 35 years and served in many important positions. He previously served as the Vice-President of the Supreme Court where he served until his appointment by a unanimous decision of the Judicial Commission as the President of the Supreme Court. He took his seat on October 1st, 2009.

At the helm of the heard of the Thai judiciary, the Honorable Chief Justice Sobchok Sukharomna inspires and guides efforts to law reform and reorganizes the judiciary with the aim of building a responsive and efficient judicial system, as well as improving the administration of justice.