Ferdian Andi, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy and Legal Studies (Puskapkum), Doctoral Program Student of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

President Prabowo Subianto's decision to increase the salary of judges by 280 percent is an important momentum to present a clean judicial institution ecosystem. The increase in the salary of judges is intended so that corruption in the judiciary does not occur again.

In Asta Cita, President Prabowo Subianto's visions and missions in the 2024 election. The issue of legal reform is indeed one of the issues that has received an important portion. The legal reforms referred to in the Asta Cita include the enforcement of the rule of law without discrimination, fairness, and transparency and preventing the use of the law as a tool of power politics.

The idea of legal reform is quite contextual in the midst of various problems that arise within the judicial institution. For example, the issue of supa in the judicial environment involving judges, clerks, legal advisors, and parties to the case. The involvement of a number of parties presents the ecosystem of judicial institutions in a complete way.

This reality is the basis for improving the ecosystem of judicial institutions in Indonesia holistically. Improving the ecosystem of judicial institutions as a manifestation of an independent judicial institutional design as stated in article 24 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution.

Ecosystem Improvement

Transparency International (2007) defines judicial corruption as a form of abuse of authority for personal interests in the form of financial, material, and non-material interests related to influence and partiality in the judicial process in the judicial system.

 Gloppen series in Court, Corruption, and Judicial Independence (2013) interprets judicial corruption more broadly. Namely, all forms of inappropriate influence that undermine the impartiality of justice involving any actor in the judicial system such as administrative staff to lawyers. Gloppen emphasized that judicial corruption is not only related to the relationship between judicial personnel and court users, but also concerns internal in judicial institutions.

The bribery cases that occurred in the judiciary show that the reform of the judiciary has not been running optimally. From a number of cases that emerged, the pattern has similarities with involving related parties triggered by supply and demand.

In fact, in the design of the constitution through the concept  of separation of power, the position of the judicial institution cannot be intervened by other branches of state power. Each branch of power has independence in exercising its power. Because, in fact, every branch of power is on an equal footing.

In this context, in the work of judges, a transparent and accountable system is needed while still upholding the independence of judges in deciding cases. An independent and impartial judiciary is the essence of an independent judiciary. Likewise, a fair judge's decision is a non-negotiable point.

At the same time, bureaucratic reform within the judiciary is no less important. The role of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in the judiciary is the focal point of bureaucratic reform. This effort is an important part of ending corrupt practices in the judiciary.

On the other hand, the role of lawyers involved in judicial corruption cases must be a concern for stakeholders, especially advocate organizations.

Legal Policy

The policy of increasing the salary of judges by 280 percent is a momentum for the Prabowo administration to form a clean judicial ecosystem through participatory legal policy involving various  related stakeholders.

The arrangement of legislation products as the basis for the institutional design, profession, and work patterns of stakeholders  within the judiciary can begin at the beginning of the Prabowo administration.

Referring to the list of National Legislation Programs (Prolegnas) 2025-2029, there is only the Advocate Bill that is included in the list of Prolegnas. The Judge Position Bill, which for a decade has been included in the list of Prolegnas, is no longer included in the details of the list. In fact,  the regulation is projected to strengthen the position of the judge's profession and regulate the mechanism for supervising judges.

Amendments to Law No. 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates are also urgently needed. A number of issues in the amendment of the Advocate Law, including regarding advocate organizations, whether single-bar or multi-bar is applied, including the idea of the existence of a National Advocate Council (DAN). Amendments to the Advocate Law are an important part of improving the ecosystem of judicial institutions.

Neil Gold in Judicial Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean (1995) stated that judicial reform contributes important to government reform. Reform of the judiciary can also minimize obstacles in the process of economic and social development. Now is the time for the president to improve the ecosystem of judicial institutions. It's time, Mr President.(JA)

This article has been published in  Jawa Pos Opinion with the title "Increase in Judges' Salaries and Presidential Momentum", Thursday, June 19, 2025.