NINE candidate justices of the Supreme Court have been chosen. Their names were widely published in the media. The candidates are set to enter the final phase of selection by the Judicial Commission before undergoing a fit-and-proper test by parliament. Following are brief sketches of the leading contenders:

H.M. Hatta AliThe Height of Achievement

H.M. Hatta Ali made headlines in 2003 when he presided over the trial of Ang Kim Soei and sentenced th