The earliest predecessor of the Federal Court was the Court of Judicature of Prince of Wales' Island (now Penang), Singapore and Malacca, which was established by the Second Charter of Justice, issued by the Crown as letters patent dated 27 November 1826.

[2] The Third Charter of Justice of 12 August 1855 reorganised the Court, providing the Straits Settlements with two Recorders, one for Prince of Wales' Island and the other for Singapore and Malacca.

In 1878 the jurisdiction and residence of judges was made more flexible, thus impliedly abolishing the geographical division of the Supreme Court.

[8] As a result of legislation passed in 1885,[9] the Supreme Court consisted of the Chief Justice and three puisne judges.

There was no change in the judicial system when the Straits Settlements were dissolved in 1946 and Singapore became a crown colony in its own right,[12] except that the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements became known as the Supreme Court of Singapore.

[18] All judges are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

It was previously housed in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur.