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Reevaluating the Principle of Legal Fiction: Balancing Legal Certainty and Social Justice

Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies · Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 295–322

DOI
10.15294/jils.v10i1.13388
ISSN
2548-1592, 2548-1584
Published
2025-08-31
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

The principle of legal fiction is widely recognized for its role in legitimizing laws and ensuring legal certainty. However, while it contributes to the stability and predictability of legal applications, it also has inherent weaknesses that may lead to unjust outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups who are unaware of the law. In the context of Indonesia’s vast territory, the lack of widespread socialization and public awareness of new legal regulations exacerbates these issues. Consequently, individuals, especially from lower socioeconomic classes, may become inadvertently entangled in legal processes due to their ignorance of applicable laws, leading to potential injustices. The principle of legal fiction, therefore, may inadvertently serve as a tool of oppression, particularly when used to position suspects as defendants without adequate awareness or understanding of their legal rights. This paper argues for a re-evaluation and improvement of the principle to ensure a more just and transparent application. A more nuanced approach is needed, distinguishing between its absolute application in criminal cases and its non-absolute use in regulatory offenses. By refining the concept of legal fiction, we can enhance both its legitimacy and its capacity to uphold justice for all members of society.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 97 co-authorship links · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Universitas Almuslim
  • University of Indonesia
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Miftahus SholehudinAffiliation unknown3
Sholahuddin Al-FatihAffiliation unknown3
Dhiana PuspitawatiAffiliation unknown2
Endrianto Bayu SetiawanAffiliation unknown2
Rachmi SulistyariniAffiliation unknown2
Djumikasih DjumikasihAffiliation unknown2
Airin LiemantoAffiliation unknown2
Mohd Hazmi Mohd RusliAffiliation unknown2
Muhammad NurUniversitas Almuslim2
Muchamad Ali SafaatAffiliation unknown2
Muhammad Nurul HudaAffiliation unknown1
Ahasanul MinanAffiliation unknown1
Mustafa LutfiAffiliation unknown1
Syahriza Alkhoir AnggoroAffiliation unknown1
Fitria EsfandiariAffiliation unknown1
Hilaire TegnanAffiliation unknown1
Patrick KeyzerAffiliation unknown1
Noppawan PhuengphaAffiliation unknown1
Erfaniah ZuhriahAffiliation unknown1
Rika KurniatyAffiliation unknown1
Jundiani JundianiAffiliation unknown1
Indah Dwi QurbaniAffiliation unknown1
Mufidah MufidahAffiliation unknown1
Sukardi SukardiUniversity of Indonesia1
Diah Pawestri MaharaniAffiliation unknown1
Mustafa LuthfiAffiliation unknown1
Ria Casmi ArrsaAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad DahlanAffiliation unknown1
Shinta HadiyantinaAffiliation unknown1
Dewi CahyandariAffiliation unknown1
Lalu Muhammad Hayyanul HaqAffiliation unknown1
Afifah KusumadaraAffiliation unknown1
Muhamad Sayuti HassanAffiliation unknown1
Fira MubayyinahAffiliation unknown1
M. Harir MuzakkiAffiliation unknown1
Raihanah binti AbdullahAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/jils/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Reevaluating the Principle of Legal Fiction: Balancing Legal Certainty and Social Justice</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Said, Muhtar</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Fadli, Moh.</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Widiarto, Aan Eko</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Al-Uyun, Dhia</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Principles of Legal Fiction</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Justice</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Society</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">The principle of legal fiction is widely recognized for its role in legitimizing laws and ensuring legal certainty. However, while it contributes to the stability and predictability of legal applications, it also has inherent weaknesses that may lead to unjust outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups who are unaware of the law. In the context of Indonesia’s vast territory, the lack of widespread socialization and public awareness of new legal regulations exacerbates these issues. Consequently, individuals, especially from lower socioeconomic classes, may become inadvertently entangled in legal processes due to their ignorance of applicable laws, leading to potential injustices. The principle of legal fiction, therefore, may inadvertently serve as a tool of oppression, particularly when used to position suspects as defendants without adequate awareness or understanding of their legal rights. This paper argues for a re-evaluation and improvement of the principle to ensure a more just and transparent application. A more nuanced approach is needed, distinguishing between its absolute application in criminal cases and its non-absolute use in regulatory offenses. By refining the concept of legal fiction, we can enhance both its legitimacy and its capacity to uphold justice for all members of society.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-08-31</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/jils/article/view/13388</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/jils.v10i1.13388</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies; Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): Legal Transformation and Policy Challenges in Indonesia: Navigating Technology, Democracy, and Social Change; 295-322</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2548-1592</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2548-1584</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/jils.v10i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/jils/article/view/13388/6003</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Muhtar Said, Moh. Fadli, Aan Eko Widiarto, Dhia Al-Uyun (Author)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>