Ad Hoc Judges Urged to Serve as Checks in Judiciary Following Allowance Increase

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A legal expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Oce Madril, has reminded that the increase in allowances must be followed by a commitment from ad hoc judges in the courts. He stressed that ad hoc judges must commit to examining and deciding cases fairly, as well as correcting the sometimes unfair methods of law enforcement officials. “Ad hoc judges are demanded to become balancers as well as a control mechanism against overly formalistic judicial processes that can distance justice,” Oce stated firmly to Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026). The presence of allowances for ad hoc judges through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 5 of 2026 naturally raises public hopes that ad hoc judges will be able to provide a sense of substantive justice in the courts. Ad hoc judges, according to Oce, are also expected by society to produce progressive decisions for the sake of justice. “There is a critical question regarding how law enforcement officials process a case. Ad hoc judges are expected to correct those unfair methods,” Oce said. “Because in principle, they are exercising judicial power that needs to maintain its independence. Welfare allowances are a form of financial independence guarantee provided by the state to judges,” Oce added. In Perpres 5/2026, ad hoc judges will receive monthly allowances, the amount of which is regulated in the attachment to the regulation. “The amount of allowances for ad hoc judges in each court as listed in the attachment already includes income tax,” states Article 4 paragraph (1) of Perpres 5/2026, downloaded from the JDIH of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker). Below is the complete list of allowances for ad hoc judges in corruption courts, industrial relations courts, fisheries courts, human rights courts, and commercial courts: