Government submits 22 candidates for justices
Government submits 22 candidates for justices
JAKARTA (JP): The government submitted to the House of
Representatives on Wednesday 22 names, including 10 people who
are not serving as judges, to fill 19 vacancies in the Supreme
Court, including the post of the chief justice.
The list includes Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, a highly respected
former judge who currently serves on the National Commission on
Human Rights. President Abdurrahman Wahid has publicly called for
the appointment of Benjamin as chief justice.
Many judges have opposed Benjamin's nomination, saying that
those serving on the Supreme Court must be recruited from career
judges. The Supreme Court early this month submitted its own list
of 24 nominations, all drawn from existing judges.
After submitting the list, Minister of Law and Legislation
Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the law empowered the government to
propose non-career judges for Supreme Court positions under
"particular circumstances."
Citing the 1985 law on the Supreme Court, he said the only
professional requirement for a justice is that he or she must
have at least 15 years of experience in the legal profession.
"The law does not specify what constitutes `particular
circumstances'," Yusril said after meeting with House Speaker
Akbar Tandjung.
The law also has a clause stipulating that nominees for the
Supreme Court must be career judges who have served a minimum of
10 years as a provincial judge, or five years as chief of a
provincial court. This is the clause used by Supreme Court
members when opposing Benjamin's nomination.
Besides the Supreme Court and the government, the Ministry of
Religious Affairs has also submitted seven names to be considered
for the Supreme Court positions.
The government's list includes Bagir Manan, a member of the
newly established National Ombudsman Council.
Other non-career judges proposed are: law professors E.
Saefullah Wiradipradja and Valerine JL Kriekhoff, law lecturers
Abdul Mukhtie Fadjar, Artidjo Alkostar, Muhammad Laica Marzuki,
Rifyal Ka'bah, Ronggur Hutagalung, and public notary Abdul Rahman
Saleh.
The 12 career judges proposed are Moch. Ali Budiarto, Abdul
Kadir Mappong, Ben Suhanda Syah, Chairani A. Wani, Eddy Djunaedi
K., Edith Dumasi Tobing Nababan, Erna Sofwan Sjukrie, Maruarar
Siahaan, Tamroekmi Chanijoen, Sakir Ardiwinata, Said Harahap and
M.S. Lumme.
Former justice minister Muladi, who has been proposed by
Akbar, is not in the list.
Akbar later said that he did not rule out the possibility of
the House making its own nominations.
The House's next duty would be to examine the records of all
the candidates proposed, and if approved, they might be invited
to present their visions, he said.
A separate commission should be established to examine the
wealth of the candidates, he said. (01/dja)