Review sought of Advocates Law

Review sought of Advocates Law

JAKARTA: A bar association and nine lawyers filed on Monday a
petition for a judicial review of a number of articles of Law No.
18/2003 on the advocate's profession with the newly established
Constitutional Court.

The Indonesian Lawyers and Human Rights Defense Association
(APHI) and other plaintiffs objected to article 2 (1) of the law,
which allow graduates of military and police law schools to
pursue careers as lawyers.

APHI chairman Dorma Sinaga said the legislation contradicted
article 24 of the Constitution, which guaranteed a free and
independent judiciary.

"The graduates of military and police law schools only learn
about those aspects of our legal system that directly affect
them," he said after filing the petition.

The Constitutional Court has registered more than 15 requests
for judicial reviews of controversial legislation since its
establishment in mid-August. -- JP