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Chief Constitutional Justice Anwar Usman, Constitutional Justices I Dewa Gede Palguna, Suhartoyo, and Daniel Yusmic Foekh at a farewell and welcome ceremony on Tuesday (7/1/2020) at the Hall of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) organized a ceremony to say goodbye to former Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna (2003-2008, 2015-2020) and welcome Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic Pancastaki Foekh (2020-2025) and Suhartoyo (2015-2020, 2020-2025) at the Hall of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday (7/1/2020).

Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna revealed that in the past he had not thought of serving for the Constitutional Court. His dream was to teach in university and it is where he returned after ending his term of office as a constitutional justice.

To the new constitutional justices, Palguna said to maintain the Court decisions and provide sound legal consideration without any political interference. He also advised that they rely on the 1945 Constitution.

“Trust me, it is not easy to think independently,” he said before the other constitutional justices as well as the Constitutional Court’s ethics council chairman Bintan Saragih and former Constitutional Justice Maria Farida Indrati (2013–2018).

Giving Contribution

Constitutional Justice Suhartoyo said that his second term would not change him. “I would be myself and grateful. Hopefully I will be able to serve more wisely, well, and [contribute] to the discussion of cases until the decisions [are passed] in the Constitutional Court in this second term,” said the alumnus of the Law Faculty of Jayabaya University.

Newly-elect Constitutional Justice Foekh in his first speech said that he had dreamed of being a judge as a child. However, it took him long until he achieved it.

“My long life journey brought me to this moment today. Hopefully my service will be able to give contribution to the decisions in the Constitutional Court cases,” said the former permanent lecturer of the Law Faculty of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia.

At the end of the ceremony, Chief Constitutional Justice Anwar Usman stated that Constitutional Justices Palguna, Suhartoyo, and Foekh are religious individuals. He hoped that future decisions by constitutional justices always follow the mandate of the 1945 Constitution and the Almighty’s guidance.

Source of Inspiration

Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah stated that Constitutional Justice I Dewa Gede Palguna had served two terms well. During his service, he added, Justice Palguna was known to be meticulous in writing decision and reading references. “During his service, Constitutional Justice Palguna offered a lot of [contribution] to the Constitutional Court and is a source of inspiration,” he said. Guntur also congratulated Constitutional Justice Suhartoyo for his re-election. (Sri Pujianti/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti

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