Law students of the KSP Principium research activity unit (UKM) of Sebelas Maret University (UNS) visiting the Constitutional Court, Thursday (21/2) on the ground floor of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

Twenty-eight law students of Sebelas Maret University (UNS) from the KSP Principium research activity unit (UKM) visited the Constitutional Court, Thursday (21/2/2018). They discussed the Constitutional Court in the eyes of the public.

Constitutional Court researcher Bisariyadi, who welcomed the participants, said the Constitutional Court could not be separated from the stigma as a product of the Reform movement. On the other hand, it is widely seen as a broad and independent institution even at a young age. The Constitutional Court, he added, also became increasingly attractive in the eyes of the public after society’s increasing interest to explore constitutional law. "Before the Reform, the constitutional law department was not in demand. However, after the Reform era, there has been a significant increase of people studying constitutional law," he said.

Bisar added that the constitutional law in the New Order differs from that after the Reform. During the New Order, constitutional law was very stiff and positivistic, while after the Reform it is highly dynamic and political. “The Constitutional Court and constitutional law cannot be separated, so increasing interest in constitutional law studies correlates also with the public’s increasing awareness of the Constitutional Court," he said.

On the other hand, Bisar said, after the Reform, citizens became increasingly aware of their constitutional rights and the Constitutional Court is the only place to fight for these rights. "The public has become aware that the Court has an important role in the Indonesian constitutionalism," he stressed.

Bisar mentioned several important cases handled by the Constitutional Court, such as a security officer petitioning severance pay and his petition was granted by the Court. This drove citizens to continue to fight for their constitutional rights.

Bisar also talked about oversight of the Constitutional Court by the Ethics Council, not the Judicial Commission. The Court’s internal Ethics Council oversees the behavior of the justices. The Judicial Commission used to also oversees the behavior of the constitutional justices. However, a Constitutional Court decision in 2006 declared the Judicial Commission not authorized to do so. (ARS/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti