Chief Justice Anwar Usman speaking at a webinar hosted by the Sharia Faculty of IAIN Kudus, Thursday (10/9) in the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court’s (MK) authorities within the 1945 Constitution fit precisely with its role as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution because it guards the Constitution and democracy, and protects the citizens’ constitutional rights, said Chief Justice Anwar Usman in a webinar hosted by the Sharia Faculty of IAIN (State Islamic Institute) Kudus, Thursday, September 10, 2020.

In the webinar entitled “The Constitutional Court’s Role as the Ultimate Guardian of the Constitution,” he explained the Court’s history, authorities, and duties. He revealed that Indonesia was the 78^th state that established a constitutional court.

“The Court’s establishment was inseparable from Article 24 of the 1945 Constitution, which created its duties and authorities,” he said at the event moderated by IAIN Kudus’ Sharia Faculty lecturer Haris Naim and attended by IAIN Kudus rector Mudzakir as well as faculty members and student interns of IAIN Kudus’ Sharia Faculty.

Justice Anwar stressed that Article 24 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution expressly stipulates that the Constitutional Court’s decisions are final, against which no legal measure can be taken. On the contrary, the decisions of other judicial institutions can be overturned through cassation or judicial review. The Constitutional Court is authorized to examine laws against the 1945 Constitution, to decide on authority dispute among state institutions whose authorities are granted by the 1945 Constitution, to decide on the dissolution of political parties, and to decide on disputes over election results. In addition, it is obligated to decide on the House’s opinion of alleged violation committed by the president and/or vice president.

Before concluding his presentation, he advised the student interns to learn various legal skills before starting their practice, “Skills are needed as initial capital in internships that [you] will participate in online amid this pandemic. So, prepare yourselves with adequate skills because [you] might have the opportunity to become judges in religious courts in Indonesia.”

Participants had the opportunity to ask the chief justice questions regarding his experiences and the ups and downs of judges and law enforcers in upholding justice. “The utmost justice is born from a clean heart. When a judge decides a case that is not in accordance with their heart, it is a punishment to themselves," he concluded. 

Writer: Sri Pujianti
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 9/14/2020 11:07 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.