17 justice candidates proposed
17 justice candidates proposed
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives announced on Friday
the names of 17 candidates it hopes to propose to President
Abdurrahman Wahid to serve in the Supreme Court.
The list includes Judge Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, a reputable
former judge, whom the President personally nominated for chief
justice; and former minister of justice Muladi, the Golkar
nominee who insists on having the top Supreme Court job or else.
The list will be sent to the President on Monday, Panda
Nababan, a member of the House's working committee to select the
candidates, told reporters.
By law, the President has the right to select any of the names
proposed to him by the House. That right means the President can
reject all the names or only pick some of the names.
There are 20 vacancies in the Supreme Court including the
position of replacement to Chief Justice Sarwata, who retires
next month.
Nababan said the list sent to the President would include the
ranking and the scores from the "fit-and-proper test" which the
working committee conducted on the candidates last week.
Their score and ranks would not be disclosed to the public.
Of the 46 candidates tested, only 17 passed.
During the test, the working committee grilled the candidates
on their vision, mission, professional competence and moral
integrity. Many career judges who were proposed failed on grounds
of moral integrity, especially when they considered a gift as a
normal expression of gratitude if given after they had delivered
a verdict.
Sources close to the investigation said that Muladi, who
caused controversy during the test by demanding the top Supreme
Court job, came second from the bottom in the list of 17 names.
They said Muladi scored a low 6.6 on a scale of 1 to 10 on
moral integrity, which would have disqualified him were it not
for a ruling that rounded up his score to 7.
Benjamin ranked nine in the list, the sources said.
Topping the list was Bagir Manan of the Padjadjaran University
in Bandung, West Java, who also serves in the National Ombudsman
Commission. He is followed by Artidjo Alkostar, Mahjudin, Andi
Sjamsu Alam and Valerine J. Kierkhoff.
During a House plenary session to endorse the names on Friday,
the inclusion of Muladi in the list prompted protests from
legislators.
G. Seto Harianto, chairman of the Love the Nation Democratic
Party (PDKB) faction, questioned Muladi's craving for the top
job.
"Why have we included Muladi if he wanted nothing less than to
become the chief justice?" Seto asked.
By law, the matter of the chief justice should be determined
by the justices serving in the Supreme Court. (jun/bby)
Candidates: Abdul Kadir Mappong, Abdul Rahman Saleh, Andi
Sjamsu Alam, Artidjo Alkostar, Bagir Manan, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga,
Chairani A. Wani, Edith Dumasi Tobing Nababan, Mahjudin, Margana,
M. Said Harahap, Muchsin, Muhamad Laica Marzuki, Muladi, Rifyal
Ka'bah, Syamsuhadi, Valerine J.L. Kierkhoff