Changes to the Term of Office of Constitutional Justices in Law Number 7 of 2020 concerning the Constitutional Court: Discourse on Legal Reform in the Independence of Judicial Power in Indonesia

Abstrak

Indonesia, as a nation governed by the rule of law, meticulously regulates all activities, including government positions. In 2020, a significant legal reform took place with the enactment of Law Number 7 of 2020 concerning the Constitutional Court. Nevertheless, this law has encountered several issues, both in form and substance. A notable alteration within this legislation was the elongation of the term of office for Constitutional Court judges, extending it from 5 years to a maximum of 15 years. This substantial change caught the Indonesian populace by surprise and prompted numerous requests for a review of the Constitutional Court Law, as it potentially infringes upon the constitutional rights of individuals aspiring to serve as Constitutional Judges, thereby undermining the concept of legal justice. Moreover, an extended term of office also poses a threat to the independence of judges. Consequently, the author seeks to address this issue using normative juridical methods and conduct a comparative analysis with several other countries to arrive at a comprehensive assessment. Through this research, it becomes evident that the extended term of office is excessively prolonged and carries the potential for abuse of power. Additionally, it appears to be entangled in political transactions between Constitutional Court Judges and the institutions that support them. In essence, this study underscores the excessive duration of the term of office as a potential avenue for power misuse and highlights its connection to political dealings among Constitutional Court Judges and their affiliated institutions.