House endorses 14 Justice candidates

Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives legislators endorsed on Monday during a plenary session 14 Supreme Court Justice candidates in what it has termed an effort to improve the Supreme Court.

In accordance with Law No. 5/2004 on Supreme Court, the shortlisted candidates would be submitted to the president for official appointment to the court.

The plenary session was led by Tosari Widjaya.

Commission II chairman Agustin Teras Narang said the 14 Justice candidates had undergone a thorough screening process by his commission.

Narang added that initially the commission was scheduled to interview 44 candidates, but seven withdrew.

He said that public input was minimal despite the commission's effort to publicize the names of the candidates on its website and in the mass media.

The Supreme Court has said it needed more justices to speed up the completion of numerous backlogged cases.

The 14 candidates

1. Harifin A. Tumpa (Jakarta High Court)

2. Gunanto Suryono (Supreme Court)

3. R. Imam Harjadi (Tanjung Karang High Court)

4. Abbas Said (Pekanbaru High Court)

5. Andar Purba (Supreme Court)

6. Djoko Sarwoko (Semarang High Court)

7. I Made Tara (Denpasar High Court)

8. Atja Sondjaja (Pontianak High Court)

9. Susanti Adi Nugroho (Supreme Court)

10. Bahaudin Qaudry (Padang High Court)

11. Imam Soebechi (Supreme Court)

12. Marina Sidabutar (Medan Administrative Court)

13. Moegihardjo (Supreme Court)

14. Muhammad Taufik (Palembang High Court)