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Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | 14:00 WIB

Chief Justice Anwar Usman speaking at a national webinar in commemoration of the 69th Anniversary of the Law Faculty of Hasanuddin University, Wednesday (10/3/2021) from the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

JAKARTA, Public Relations—Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman spoke at a national webinar on “Strengthening Legal Higher Education to Support Just and Humane Approach to Law Enforcement in the New Normal” on Wednesday morning, March 10, 2021. This webinar was held in commemoration of the 69th Anniversary of the Law Faculty of Hasanuddin University.

“Before [delivering my presentation], I’d like to congratulate the Law Faculty of Hasanuddin University for its 69th anniversary. Hopefully the Law Faculty of Hasanuddin University will continue making great contributions to the nation and the state,” he said.

He also mentioned the faculty’s alumni who have been making contributions national. The Court has two of its alumni: Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto and Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah.

The webinar’s theme, Justice Anwar said, was a crucial discussion topic and came at the right moment. He said that the webinar would be discussing three main issues. First, the roles and contributions of the higher education in the enforcement of the law. Second, just and humane approach to the enforcement of the law. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to a new normal.

Contribution of Enforcement of Law

The chief justice said that he had often said in seminars and discussions that higher education of law had significant roles and contributions in the enforcement of the law. “Almost all [participants of this webinar]—the Rector, the Dean, the speakers, and participants—are products of the higher education of law,” he added.

He believes higher education of law shouldn’t only be defined practically, as it also touches on three key issues in the legal system: legal substance, legal structure, and legal culture. The substantive enforcement of the law can be realized when those three elements can be fulfilled. “In the context of legal substance, higher education of law can promote academic texts that become normative guidelines for law enforcement officials in enforcing the law,” he said.

At the same time, he added, higher education of law also trains qualified law enfacement officials who work in the frontline of law enfacement in society. He also said higher education of law also contributes to the development of legal culture by producing law-abiding generations.

Law Enforcement Responsibility

The responsibility of law enforcement in the substantive context and the fulfillment of the legal system’s elements lie with higher education of law, especially law lecturers as they educate students who will participate in the enforcement of law and justice. Justice Anwar stressed that the responsibility of law enforcement lies with state law enforcement officials—police officers, prosecutors, and judges. Some say it lies with the judges who decide on cases.

“I believe the higher education bears the responsibility of law enforcement because the values instilled through education are everlasting, compared to the temporary offices of law enforcement officials,” he highlighted.

He also said that just and humane law approach to enforcement means that the law cannot apply in a vacuum. In contrast, the law is dynamic and always following the times.

Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a new normal, he said that all fields have been forced to give up old traditions. Activities that used to be face-to-face, such as education and court proceedings, now require virtual meetings. The Constitutional Court also made such changes, where it has held hearings, seminars, discussions, book reviews, and other activities virtually.

“However, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the enforcement of the law shouldn’t stop. If the law was not enforced for a day, or even an hour, chaos would ensue,” Justice Anwar emphasized.

Writer: Nano Tresna Arfana
Editor: Nur R.

Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti
Editor: NL

Translation uploaded on 3/12/2021 14:11 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.

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