Judges Urged Not to Politicise the Courtroom

Jakarta, VIVA – Adib Miftahul, Executive Director of the National Politics Study (KPN), has reminded judges in the case of alleged corruption within the North Sumatra Regional Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) to safeguard their independence and neutrality.

According to Adib, judges must uphold the dignity and honour of the court by adhering to the code of ethics, including behaving fairly, honestly, wisely, and prudently.

“Judges must not adjudicate cases that involve conflicts of interest, whether personal, familial, or other relationships,” Adib told reporters on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

A judge, Adib continued, must not take sides either inside or outside the court. This concern was raised by Adib in light of the proceedings in the DJKA corruption case, where one of the defendants mentioned the flow of bribe funds for the interests of the Presidential Election (Pilpres) and the North Sumatra Gubernatorial Election (Pilgub).

For Adib, the clarity and objectivity of judges in leading fair proceedings are essential, rather than using the courtroom as a stage for personal interests or anything that obscures independence.

If judges engage in politics in the courtroom, it can damage public trust in the judicial institution. Likewise, in deciding cases, a judge must be free from the influence of public opinion or political intervention.