Again, judges urged to be more independent

Chief Justice Harifin A. Tumpa (right) and The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interim leader Tumpak H. Panggabean (left) after discussing Friday (16/10) the establishment of seven corruption courts. (photo: The Jakarta Post)

Jakarta | badilag.net/english (19/10)

Chief Justice Harifin A. Tumpa restated Friday (16/10) his urge that judges must be more independent when examining cases and handing down judgments. This is especially urgent, since, according to Chief Justice, judges’ credibility has not changed much in the past 30 years.

“Therefore I urge them to become more independent,” thejakartapost.com reported.

Previously, Harifin gave the same statement when delivering directions to participants of the Supreme Court National Working Meeting (Rakernas MA RI) last week in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Chief Justice believes that through Strategic Plans set out by the Supreme Court, judges will gradually improve their performance in terms of independence and quality.

Jakarta | badilag.net/english (13/10)

Badilag will hold 2^nd English discussion on October 27, 2009 and cordially invites interested participants from Religious Courts to take part in this valuable meeting at Badilag Office, Pegangsaan Barat Street No. 30, Central Jakarta from 10 am to 3 pm.

The theme of this discussion is “Court Excellence” that will be presented by Drs. H. Yasardin, SH, MH (Chief Judge of Depok Religious Court) with two discussants, Dra. Alia Alhasna, SH, MH (Judge at Tangerang Religious Court) and Shofa’u Qalbi, Lc, MA (Judge Candidate at East Jakarta Religious Court) and Salman, SHI, MA (Judge Candidate at Cilegon Religious Court) as the moderator.

The discussion will also be attended by Mr. David Sabin Anderson, Chief Party of Indonesia-Anticorruption and Commercial Court Enhancement (In-ACCE) USAID, who will give a short speech and open a short dialogue with participants.

Download the discussion theme and the schedule here.

Deputy Chief Justice urges similar perception in applying law

Palembang | badilag.net/english (9/10)

Deputy Chief Justice for Religious Courts Affairs, Andi Syamsu Alam said yesterday (8/10) judges need to show their determination on enhancing Courts quality by having similar perception in applying laws.

The statement was delivered to participants of the Supreme Court national meeting from commission II (Religious Courts) on the second day of the meeting held in Palembang.

There were five grand topics emerging in this commission’s discussion presented by five Supreme Court Justices. Among five discussion topics of Procedural law, Inheritance law, Sharia Economy, Qanun Sharia and Zakat, one that received huge response was the inheritance law. This was triggered by Justice Habiburrahman who questioned stipulations of inheritance law written in Islamic Law Compilation (Kompilasi Hukum Islam), a book of applied Islamic law that has been main reference for judges since 1991.

“It is time to change and rise”

Palembang | Badilag.net/english (7/10)

“Public has been long discrediting us. It is time to rise!” Chief Justice Harifin Tumpa said Wednesday morning (7/10) amid his directive to participants of the Supreme Court National Working Meeting that he opened here in Palembang, South Sumatera.

Chief Justice further urged all Courts’ staff and officials to immediately change their mindset and work performance. “It is the time for us to rise. Our only goal must be for providing justice to justice seekers,” Harifin said while stressing judges’ responsibility for this role of change.

Harifin previously presented the participants a long history of Indonesian judges’ credibility in terms of independence and quality. He stated that judges once reached highest level of credibility in the period of 1945-1960. At this time, Harifin said, public highly respected judges and Courts as well as the Supreme Court for their high quality and independence.