The Court held a ceremony on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Plenary Courtroom to mark the retirement of Justice Arief Hidayat. (MKRI/Ifa)

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JAKARTA, MKRI – Justice Arief Hidayat reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on February 3, 2026. After serving 13 years as a Constitutional Justice, he was honorably discharged under Presidential Decree Number 9/P of 2026 on the Dismissal and Appointment of Constitutional Justices, issued by President Prabowo Subianto upon the proposal of the House of Representatives.

“Honorably dismiss Prof. Dr. Arief Hidayat, S.H., M.S., from his position as Constitutional Justice effective February 3, 2026,” said Secretary-General Heru Setiawan when reading the decree at the ceremony.

Justice Arief is known for his view that judges must be guided by “Divine Light.” He believes that the law must reflect belief in God and moral accountability, in line with the values of Pancasila.

Although firm in his principles, Justice Arief is also known for his humor. During his farewell speech before fellow justices and Court staff, he shared light remarks so the occasion would be remembered with joy rather than sadness.

“A sad speech creates an uneasy atmosphere, so I prefer to make light remarks,” he said.

During his 13 years on the bench, Justice Arief experienced both rewarding and challenging moments. He expressed gratitude for the experience and knowledge he gained throughout his service.

He urged the remaining Constitutional Justices to continue upholding the law, protecting the Constitution, and safeguarding the nation’s ideology. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial independence amid political pressure.

“I do not feel sad leaving the Court. I would only feel sad if the Court could no longer stand firm in upholding constitutional law and the nation’s ideology,” he stated.

At the end of his judicial career, Justice Arief, who is also a Professor, published seven books containing his thoughts and reflections, along with testimonials from colleagues, to document his ideas and contributions for future generations.

One day before turning 70, he released the following seven titles: Memoir of 70 Years of Arief Hidayat and the Family’s Scholarly Tradition; A Godly State: A Reflection on the Character of Indonesia’s Welfare State; Dissenting and Concurring Opinions of Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat: The Internalization of Progressive Law in Constitutional Court Decisions; Arief Hidayat on the Global Stage: Diplomacy in the Manner of Bung Karno; Arief Hidayat in the Eyes of Friends; A Rule of Law State with Pancasila Character: Addressing the Direction of National Legal Development; and Arief Hidayat: Half Human.

Born in Semarang, Central Java, Justice Arief began his service on April 1, 2013, after taking his oath before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. On November 6, 2013, he was elected Vice Chief Justice.

On January 14, 2015, during the Court’s handling of the 2014 General Election result disputes, he was unanimously elected Chief Justice. He served two terms, ending on April 1, 2018.

As Chief Justice, he led the Court in upholding the Constitution and enforcing the law. He also served as President of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC). Under his leadership, the Court strengthened its international role, including initiating cooperation between the AACC and the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa in 2017.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo, who worked with Justice Arief for 11 years, expressed his respect and appreciation. He said the occasion reminds everyone that there is a time to serve and a time to step aside.

“Every person has his time, and every time has its person,” he said.

According to Chief Justice Suhartoyo, Justice Arief demonstrated consistency and dedication until the end of his term. He continued to attend hearings, actively participate in deliberation meetings, and provide guidance whenever needed.

“Prof. Arief will always be part of our history and our institution,” he stated.

The Court congratulates Justice Arief Hidayat on his retirement and wishes him continued wisdom and good health.

Author             : Mimi Kartika

Editor              : Lulu Anjarsari P.

Translator       : Nies Lindy/Vale

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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