Name Change Lawsuit: 19 Lawyers Resign, Pakubuwono XIV's Purbaya Resigns
A civil lawsuit by the Lembaga Dewan Adat (LDA) of Keraton Surakarta regarding the name change of KGPH Purbaya to Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwono XIV at the Surakarta District Court has entered a new phase following the resignation of 19 lawyers acting as legal representatives for Purbaya.
“Today, the judge handling the LDA’s petition held a hearing summoning the plaintiff’s and defendant’s counsels. Essentially, the defendant’s legal team submitted their resignation,” explained advocate Sigit Sudibyanto, counsel for LDA Keraton.
The resignation of the 19 advocates from the law firm Dr Teguh Satya Bhakti, SH, MH & Partners, in the midst of the ongoing case, has prompted the judge to schedule a summons for the defendant principal directly.
Essentially, at the next hearing on Thursday (17 April), it will be determined whether the principal will replace and appoint new legal counsel, or proceed without representation. “That’s the core of next week’s hearing,” added Sigit, emphasising that the LDA’s lawsuit was filed because Purbaya’s name change to PB XIV has the potential to create legal and administrative issues.
It was clearly revealed in the Thursday (10 April 2026) hearing that the 19 advocates have officially resigned as legal representatives for Pakubuwono XIV, as stated in Resignation Statement Letter No. 001/SP/TSB/III/2026.
In the document, the advocates stated that they had previously acted based on Special Power of Attorney No. 62/SKK/TSB/I/2026 dated 27 January 2026.
However, due to irreconcilable differences with their legal client, they decided to terminate the attorney-client relationship.
The 19 advocates were coordinated by advocate Dr. Teguh Satya Bhakti. All the advocates are Indonesian citizens practising as advocates and legal consultants, who previously acted individually or jointly in providing legal services to the client.
The letter explains that the resignation is based on Article 8 letter (g) of the Advocates’ Code of Ethics, which states that an advocate may resign if differences arise and no agreement is reached with the client in handling the case.
Additionally, the advocates affirmed Article 21 paragraph (1) of Law No. 18 of 2003 on Advocates, which states that advocates are entitled to receive honorarium for the legal services provided.
In the resignation, the advocates also detailed several cases and legal assignments previously handled. These include an administrative petition for the cancellation of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights’ decision regarding the establishment of the legal entity Lembaga Dewan Adat Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat.
Others involve a petition for the king’s name change, an objection to the Minister of Culture’s decision, and a public service complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Furthermore, the advocate team handled requests for audiences or opinion-hearing meetings with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and acted as counsel in the lawsuit filed by Lembaga Dewan Adat Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat at the Surakarta District Court.
In the final section of the letter, it is emphasised that from the date of this resignation, all legal actions taken by the client are no longer the responsibility of the said advocates.
“Thus, this resignation letter is made for use as appropriate,” states the advocates’ resignation letter in the document.
This mass resignation marks an important note in the dynamics of the ongoing case, given that the entire legal team has withdrawn simultaneously from various previously handled legal matters.