Megawati to install new nine judges

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is set to inaugurate the nine judges of the new Constitutional Court at the State Palace on Saturday, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Friday.

Emerging from a meeting with Megawati, Yusril said the President had chosen the last three judges.

"It was difficult for us to elect three judges out of the 23 candidates, but we focused on their legal track records," Yusril said at a news conference.

The minister failed to mention the criteria for the selection, with some noted legal experts being considered unqualified for the job, such as lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and JE Sahetapy.

The three judges are Achmad Syariffudin Natabaya of the state University of Sriwijaya, Mukti Fajar of the state University of Brawijaya and Haryono of the regional representatives faction at the People's Consultative Assembly.

The establishment of the Constitutional Court is required under the amended 1945 Constitution, which set Aug. 17 as the deadline for the establishment of the court.

According to the Constitution, the nine judges are to be appointed by the House of Representatives, the government and the Supreme Court, with each institution naming three judges. The House and the Supreme Court had earlier announced their appointees.

Yusril said the three judges had also been selected by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Attorney General M.A. Rachman.

The nine elected judges will hold a meeting as soon as possible to appoint a chairman of the new court from among themselves, Yusril said.

The state established the Constitutional Court to review the Constitution and government laws and regulations if so requested by the public.

Currently, reviewing laws is the responsibility of the Supreme Court.

The Constitutional Court law was passed on Aug. 6, after which a frantic hunt for judges ensured.

-------------------------------------------------------------------- NAMES POSITION AFFILIATION -------------------------------------------------------------------- Achmad Syarifuddin Constitutional expert -- Natabaya

Mukti Fadjar Constitutional expert --

Harjono People's Consultative Indonesian Democratic

Assembly member Party of Struggle (PDI

Perjuangan)

Jimly Asshiddiqie Legal expert Golkar Party

Achmad Rustandi Legal expert United Development

Party (PPP)

I Dewa Palguna Legal expert PDI Perjuangan

Laica Marzuki High court judge --

Sudarsono High court judge

Muarar Siahaan High Court judge ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------