Few people are aware about the Justice Museum Putrajaya, a courts museum located inside the grandiose Palace of Justice building (Istana Kehakiman) in Putrajaya. Unless we are in the legal profession we try to avoid courts and seldom get the chance to find out what goes on in the legal world.

At this museum you can learn how Malaysia?s legal system developed, view a mock-up High Court trial, see wigs, costumes and other lawyerly paraphernalia. There are biographies of all Chief Justices of Malaysia since Independence. The gentleman on the left here with the strict demeanour was Tun Sir James Beverage Thomson who was the first Chief Justice of the Independent Federation of Malaya.

A trip to the Justice Museum Putrajaya enables visitors to see inside the magnificent Palace of Justice building and admire the ornate decoration of the dome. The Palace of Justice houses judicial departments as well as the Court of Appeal and Federal Courts and judges? chambers.

The museum is open during government office hours, i.e . 9am to 5pm on weekdays only. There is no admission fee. Smart attire is required (long trousers, shirt and proper shoes for men) no T shirts or flip flops. You can take photos in the museum but not in the courtrooms and your bags will be x-rayed.