Chief Justice Anwar Usman speaking at the Special Education and Training for the Advocate Profession (DKPA) XIV organized by the regional executive board (DPD) of the West Java Congress of Indonesian Advocates (KAI) and the Law Faculty of Pasundan University, Saturday (5/9/2020) in Bandung, West Java. Photo by Humas MK/KAI.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Chief Justice Anwar Usman spoke at the Special Education and Training for the Advocate Profession (DKPA) XIV organized by the regional executive board (DPD) of the West Java Congress of Indonesian Advocates (KAI) and the Law Faculty of Pasundan University, Saturday, September 5, 2020 in Bandung, West Java. Before 110 prospective advocates, the talked about the functions and authorities of the Constitutional Court.

He presented "Judicial Review in the Constitutional Court" about the judicial powers as stated in Article 24 of the 1945 Constitution, which is the legal basis for the formation of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. Article 24 paragraph (2) reads, "The judicial powers shall be carried out by a Supreme Court and by it subordinate judiciary bodies dealing with general, religious, military, state administrative judicial fields, and by a Constitutional Court." Based on this provision, he added, the Constitutional Court is one of the implementers of the judicial powers in upholding law and justice along with the Supreme Court.

Based on Article 24C paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, the Constitutional Court has the authority to examine laws against the 1945 Constitution, decide on authority disputes between state institutions whose authorities are granted by the 1945 Constitution, decide on the dissolution of political parties, and decide on disputes over the results of general elections. In addition, based on Article 7 paragraphs (1) to (5) and Article 24C paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution, which is reaffirmed by Article 10 paragraph (2) of Law No. 24 of 2003, the Constitutional Court is obligated to issue a decision based on the House’s (DPR) opinion if the president and/or vice president has violated the law, or committed despicable acts, or not met the requirements for president and/or vice president as referred to in the 1945 Constitution.

As a legal professional, he advised the prospective advocates to always enforce the law honestly, fairly, and responsibly. “Because [we] are accountable not only to other humans, but also to God. Truth cannot be silenced. Evil or tyranny cannot beat truth, justice. When truth comes, all deception will be destroyed,” he said.

Writer: Hendy P.
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Translation uploaded on 9/7/2020 10:28 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.