Gus Dur taps Taufik for deputy chief justice

Gus Dur taps Taufik for deputy chief justice

JAKARTA (JP): While the fate of the nation's next chief
justice remains up in the air, President Abdurrahman Wahid has
had no hesitation in appointing Taufik as deputy chief justice.

There was no immediate explanation on Abdurrahman's selection
of Taufik over Abdurrahman Saleh who was the other candidate
nominated by the House of Representatives.

The appointment was made official by Presidential Decree No.
18/M signed on Monday. The swearing in ceremony is due to be held
on Wednesday.

Taufik, 62, has served in the supreme court since 1992.

Candidates for both the deputy and the chief justice of the
supreme court were nominated by the House with two nominations
being forwarded to the President for each position.

The selection of the deputy chief justice has been relatively
free of controversy in comparison to the nomination of Muladi and
Bagir Manan as chief justice.

The President has yet to make a decision with presidential
spokesman Wimar Witoelar even saying that Abdurrahman was not
enthusiastic about the nomination of either of them due to their
past links with the New Order.

Muladi was a former New Order justice minister and Bagir, now
a constitutional law professor at Padjadjaran University in
Bandung, also served as a senior official during the presidency
of B.J. Habibie.

Abdurrahman has stated that he prefers Benjamin Mangkoedilaga
for the post.