SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Special Plenary Session for the Election of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (MA), held on Wednesday (10/16/2024) in Jakarta, officially elected Sunarto as the new Chief Justice, replacing M. Syarifuddin. Sunarto won by a landslide, securing 30 votes.

According to Antara, Sunarto surpassed the three other Supreme Court Justices running for the position: Haswandi (4 votes), Soesilo (1 vote), and Yulius (7 votes). Sunarto previously served as the Deputy Chief Justice for Judicial Affairs.

The other candidates were Haswandi (Supreme Court Justice for the Civil Chamber), Soesilo (Supreme Court Justice for the Criminal Chamber), and Yulius (Head of the State Administrative Chamber).

The session was attended by 45 of the 46 Supreme Court Justices. A total of 44 votes were cast, with 42 valid votes, 2 invalid votes, and 1 abstention.

Accordion to Article 9, Paragraph (1) of Supreme Court Decree No. 212/KMA/SK.KP1.1/X/2024 on the Rules for the Election of the Chief Justice, Sunarto’s vote count exceeded 50 of the valid votes

“Therefore, His Excellency Sunarto is declared the elected Chief Justice for the 2024 - 2029 term” said Syarifuddin, who chaired the session.

Syarifuddin also emphasized that whoever is elected as the Chief Justice is “part of our own family, our own colleague, whom we must support and respect together”. 

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi