Judges overseeing the 'Tempo' case

Soeripto

The criminal libel prosecution against the journalists of Tempo magazine is the first high-profile case presided over by Judge Soeripto since he was appointed to the Central Jakarta District Court last year.

Born Nov. 5, 1954, in the Central Java town of Klaten, Soeripto started his career in 1981 after graduating from the law school at Yogyakarta's prestigious Gadjah Mada University.

He first served the public as a judge at the Tarakan District Court in East Kalimantan.

The next 13 years saw Soeripto overseeing many cases throughout the province, while serving as a judge at the Tanjung Redep District Court in 1984, and later at the Kandangan District court in 1989.

In 1994, Soeripto was moved to the Denpasar District Court and later promoted in 1999 to take the position as deputy head of the Purworejo District Court in Central Java. He later headed the Wates District Court, also in the province.

Kusriyanto

Born in Purwasari, Central Java, on Sept. 11, 1957, Kusriyanto graduated from Yogyakarta's Indonesian Islamic University (UII) Law School in 1982.

His career began in 1985, when he was appointed judge at the Tanjung Karang District Court in Lampung.

He was assigned to the Bangko District Court in Jambi in 1989, and later to the Muara Teweh District Court in Central Kalimantan in 1995.

In 1999, Kusriyanto returned to Lampung, this time to serve as a judge at the Metro District Court in the province's capital for one year before being moved to the Argamakmur District Court in Bengkulu.

After 18 years of service in small district courts, Kusriyanto was promoted to the Central Jakarta District Court last year.

Ridwan Mansyur

After a 15-year legal career, Ridwan last year was appointed to Central Jakarta District Court spokesman, a communication role where he closely monitored the media and kept in touch with journalists.

Born on Nov. 11, 1959, Ridwan first became a judge in 1989 for the Muara Enim District Court in South Sumatra, after receiving his master's degree from South Sumatra's IBLAM Law School. He received his undergraduate degree from the law school in his hometown, at Sriwijaya University in 1985.

Ridwan served six years in South Sumatra before he was appointed as a judge at the Argamakmur District Court in Bengkulu in 1995.

In 1998, he was moved to the Cibinong District Court in West Java.