Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul giving away souvenir NCSC’s Vice President Jeffrey Apperson after the opening to the recharging program at the NCSC’s headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia, Monday (6/6/2023). Photo by MKRI/MMA.

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WILLIAMSBURG (MKRI) — A recharging program pilot project on “Restructuring Constitutional Democracy” for staff members of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI) was officially opened by Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul at the headquarters of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in Williamsburg, Virginia, the US on Monday, June 5, 2023. Program participants, counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Mardhiah Ridha Muhammad, President of the NCSC Williamsburg Mary C. McQueen, Vice President of the NCSC Jeffrey A. Apperson, Executive Vice President of the NCSC Michael Buenger, and Catherine Stahl from the William & Mary Law School were in attendance.

Apperson opened the event by briefly explaining the recharging program, which took place on June 5 to July 21, 2023, and getting to know the participants. In his remarks, Justice Manahan said the MKRI appreciated the recharging program, the first of its kind to take place in the US, which the NCSC organized. “This program is invaluable to the MKRI institutionally and to staff members individually in responding to challenges and needs of the MKRI in the future,” said the University of North Sumatera alumnus.

Justice Manahan also talked about the MKRI’s Constitution-mandated authority as not only a judicial institution that implements procedural justice but also substantive justice in enforcing constitutional democracy, which is reflected in its decisions. “The Court continuously strives to protect the citizens’ constitutional rights [and] enforce constitutional democracy through decisions on the constitutional review of laws,” he added.

Ending his remarks, he expressed hope that the program would run smoothly and that all participants could participate in all agendas of the program. “[I] hope the activity runs according to plans, the participants optimally learn important information, which is highly valuable for improving the quality of decisions and the judicial capacity of the MKRI, as well as build their intellectual capacity,” he emphasized.

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Recharging Program Pilot Project

Apperson also said the program is a historical pilot project between Indonesia and the US. “This is the first time Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia cooperates with us,” he revealed.

He also said that the participants will learn about the US and vice versa; participants and instructors will exchange experience and knowledge of the legal systems of both countries. “The participants of the recharging will be the first to have dialogs with judges in the US to get comprehensive insights,” he said.

Mary McQueen echoed the sentiment. She welcomed the cooperation, which is in line with the NCSC’s vision and mission to strengthen democracy through the rule of law and to improve public trust to the management of judicial administration.

Meanwhile, William & Mary Law School representative Catherine Stahl expressed enthusiasm in welcoming the participants and showed full support for the program. At the end of the event, Michael Buenger elaborated on the NCSC’s position and vital role in promoting equal justice under the law. He explained the US legal system and the materials that the participants will learn for around four weeks in the NCSC. After the presentation, the Q&A session followed. During the session, Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul also talked about the formation of laws amid the pandemic, including the COVID-19 Law.

The opening event was closed with the conferring of souvenirs and a group photo session. It was followed by a campus tour around the NCSC, the William & Mary Law School, and Colonial Williamsburg, ending at the participants’ lodging.

Author       : MMA
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.

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