RI establishes Constitutional Court
RI establishes Constitutional Court
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri installed on Saturday nine
judges to the bench of the newly created Constitutional Court.
In a ceremony attended by high-level officials at the State
Palace, the nine judges, all prominent figures in the field of
law, were sworn in by the President.
The nine judges were nominated by the government, the House of
Representatives and the Supreme Court. They are Achmad
Syarifuddin, Mukti Fadjar, Haryono, Jimly Asshiddique, Achmad
Rustandi, I Dewa Palguna, Laica Marzuki, Sudarsono and Muarar
Siahaan.
With the installment of the judges, the Constitutional Court
officially takes over the judicial review authority from the
Supreme Court. It is also ready to hear other cases dealing with
the Constitution.
"The public should have no doubt about us. We promise to be
independent in settling cases between state institutions," Jimly
said after the ceremony.
The Constitutional Court was established officially several
days after the President enacted the law on the court. The bill,
which was deliberated by the House for one and half months, was
endorsed by the House last week.
The Constitutional Court is directed by the Constitution to
conduct judicial reviews and settle cases where the president is
considered to have violated the law.
There are worries the political affiliations of the judges
could influence the court's decisions, especially as regards
cases involving the president.
Jimly, who is affiliated with the Golkar Party, denied
politics would color the court's decisions.
Two judges, Haryono and Palguna, are affiliated with the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
largest party in the country, while Rustandi was proposed by the
United Development Party (PPP).
Jimly said the nine judges would hold their maiden meeting as
soon as possible to elect a chief judge and to resolve any
technical matters.
"We will also have a meeting with the Supreme Court, which
used to handle judicial reviews," he said.
The Constitution required the country to have a Constitutional
Court up and running before Aug. 17 this year.
Laica Marzuki, one of three judges nominated by the Supreme
Court, had been receiving treatment for respiratory problems at a
Jakarta hospital.
He left the hospital for several hours to attend the ceremony
at the State Palace.
A team of doctor and nurses were standing by during the
ceremony, along with an oxygen tank, in case Laica fell ill.
"We are so worried, he should not leave the hospital," one of
the nurses said. The team took Laica back to the hospital as soon
as the ceremony was over.
Most of the Cabinet, House of Representative Speaker Akbar
Tandjung and other official were among the attendees at the
ceremony.