Constitutional Justice Anwar Usman taking oath of office as chief justice of the Constitutional Court for 2023-2028, Monday (3/20/2023). Photo by MKRI/Erwin.

Monday, March 20, 2023 | 13:56 WIB

JAKARTA (MKRI) — Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Saldi Isra took an oath of office as chief justice and deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court for 2023-2028. They were sworn in at a special plenary session for the inauguration of the chief justice and deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court at the plenary courtroom of the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday noon, March 20, 2023. Both were sworn in before the other constitutional justices; President Joko Widodo; Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and former chief justice of the Constitutional Court for 2008-2013 Mahfud MD, first chief justice of the Constitutional Court Jimly Asshiddiqie, and a number of state officials and guests.

In his remarks, newly-elect Chief Justice Anwar Usman said that there had been efforts to interfere with the independence of the judiciary, which were different from similar efforts in the past. Public perception, he said, is a challenge for the judiciary in maintaining independence. Massive use of social media, he added, also led to massive mobilization of public opinion.

The negative side of social media, he added, also impact public officials and public figures, which was apparent in the 2019 Simultaneous Election. It compelled him to make a statement that constitutional justices only submit to the Constitution and God Almighty to affirm the Court’s independence in adjudicating its cases.

However, he said, the Court’s decisions would not appease everyone. Those who feel their interest are accommodated would defend them, and those who do not would not. He also revealed that in ruling cases, constitutional justices sometimes have different opinions from the majority, including the chief justice and the deputy chief justice. He then reminded all elements of society to be wise and educate the public to respond to judicial decisions maturely.

He also said that himself and Justice Saldi Isra had been given a mandate as chief justice and deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court for 2023-2028. Thus, he welcome recommendations, support, and criticisms for the sake of the nation and state.

Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Saldi Isra were elected chief justice and deputy chief justice of the Constitutional Court on March 15, 2023. The election results were then written down in the Constitutional Court Decree No. 4 of 2023 on the inauguration of the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for 2023-2028 and Decree No. 5 of 2023 on the inauguration of the Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court for 2023-2028.

Author       : Ilham M. W.
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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