Dr. Ridwan Mansyur, S.H., M.H. was born on November 11, 1959, in Lahat, South Sumatra. His first steps into the world of knowledge were taken at 12th Lahat Elementary School, where he completed in 1972. He then continued his early education in his hometown, graduating from junior high school in 1975. From there, he ventured to 1st Xaverius Palembang High School, where he completed his upper secondary education in 1979.
Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to excellence, he went on to pursue higher education at the Faculty of Law, Sriwijaya University in Palembang and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1984. After completing his master’s degree in law, he ascended further, pursuing a doctoral degree at Padjadjaran University in Bandung. In 2010, he emerged with the title of Doctor.
His career began in 1986 as a candidate judge at the District Court of Bekasi. By 1989, he had risen to the position of judge at the District Court of Muara Enim. Just two and a half years later, in 1992, he transitioned to serve as a judge at the District Court of Arga Makmur in North Bengkulu. His journey continued in 1998, when he was assigned to the District Court of Cibinong.
In 2002, after completing a short course at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), he was called to serve as a judge at the Central Jakarta District Court, handling cases of commerce, human rights, corruption, and industrial relations. This chapter of his journey lasted until mid-2006.
Still in 2006, he was entrusted with his first leadership role as Vice Chair of the Purwakarta District Court. A year later, he was appointed Vice Chair of the Batam District Court, and by 2008, he had been promoted to Chair of the same court.
By 2010, his excellence and dedication earned him another promotion, this time as Chair of the Palembang District Court, a IA Class Special Court. After serving in various roles at the district court level, he was promoted in 2012 to High Judge at the Jakarta High Court. That same year, he was appointed Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau at the Supreme Court of Indonesia—a position he held with distinction for five years, from 2012 to 2017.
In mid-2017 to 2018, he was entrusted with the role of Vice Chair of the Bangka Belitung High Court. From there, his journey took him to the Tanjungkarang High Court, where he served as Vice Chair starting in late 2018. Two years later, in 2020, he was promoted to Vice Chair of the Semarang High Court. Before completing a full year in Semarang, on February 3, 2021, Dr. Ridwan Mansyur—husband to Rita Iryani, S.H., CN—was entrusted with the role as Clerk of the Supreme Court of Indonesia.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mansyur has also expanded his knowledge and skills through various trainings, both at homeland and abroad. He has studied Human Rights in the Netherlands and Norway, also Judicial Management in the United States and Australia, as well as Intellectual Property Rights in Sydney. He has also been a key part of the Supreme Court’s reform efforts, contributing to the modernization and strengthening of Indonesia’s judicial system.
In a crowning achievement of his distinguished career, on October 3, 2023, Dr. Ridwan Mansyur was elected as a Constitutional Court Justice, representing the judiciary (Supreme Court). He was officially sworn in on December 9, 2023, by the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the State Palace, succeeding Manahan M. P. Sitompul. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Mansyur expresses profound gratitude for he has walked the path of service in two pillars of judicial power—the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
During his time in Cibinong, Ridwan introduced a unique approach to court proceedings that was ahead of its time. At a time when there were no formal regulations for the protection of witnesses and victims in court, he was the only judge who allowed witnesses to be accompanied during their testimony. This groundbreaking move ensured that victims, particularly children and women, could give their statements clearly and without fear.
But Ridwan didn’t stop there. He believed that resolving cases wasn’t just about handing down sentences—it was about healing. He pioneered the use of mediation in court, creating a psychological environment that helped reduce the traumatic effects on child and female victims. His innovative methods eventually became part of the formal legal framework, leaving a lasting impact on the justice system.
Dr. Ridwan Mansyur is not just a justice; he’s a family man. He’s a devoted husband to Rita Iryani, and a loving father to their four children: Aditya Akbar, Andini Dwi Lestari, Alvin Aulia Rahman, and Aldy Rizky Adhytama. After a distinguished career as a judge in the Supreme Court of Indonesia, and now as a Constitutional Justice in the Constitutional Court, Ridwan Mansyur believes that the role of a justice is not only to settle cases but to resolve the deeper issues at their core. It’s about bringing harmony to conflicting interests and ensuring that justice serves the people.
Outside the courtroom, Ridwan is a man of many passions. He loves sports and painting, and he sees connection between his hobby and his profession. To him, there is a profound connection between the art of painting and the art of judging. Painting, he says, is the harmony of blending different colors into a beautiful masterpiece. Similarly, judging is about unifying conflicting desires and interests into a harmonious resolution. Both require patience, vision, and the ability to see beyond the surface to create something meaningful. It’s about finding balance, just like in art.