Author: Cecep Mustafa

One of the most interesting things I have been reflecting on during the discussion of Japanese civil procedure is that judicial reform is rarely a straight line. Japan itself provides a fascinating lesson. Its civil procedure can almost be read as a “history of failures”: the German model of 1890, the Austrian-inspired reform of 1926, the American pre-trial model of 1956, and eventually the development of more flexible Japanese practices before the modern framework emerged. The important lesson is not that those foreign models were necessarily wrong. The lesson is that a legal transplant does not automatically become an institutional…

What struck me most about the Chōtei Court is that justice does not always have to begin with a judgment. Sometimes, it begins with a conversation. The Chōtei system offers an interesting lesson in how courts can approach disputes with a degree of compassion that is sometimes difficult to find in conventional litigation. At its heart is a simple idea: people who come to court do not always need someone to declare who has won and who has lost. Sometimes they need someone to help them understand the problem, see the weaknesses in their own position, and find a way…

In Japan, dispute resolution extends beyond delivering judgments. As part of the Indonesia–Japan Judicial Training Program, participants explore how settlement and mediation strengthen the court system by allowing parties to resolve disputes through structured dialogue. The training covers the techniques and theory of mediation, focusing on facilitating communication and addressing the interests of all parties. The role of the judge remains central, requiring careful attention to evidence, issues, and settlement possibilities while maintaining fairness and integrity. Through lectures, discussions, and exercises, participants are encouraged to look beyond winning or losing to a deeper question: How can courts provide a fair,…

Welcome to the Indonesia–Japan Judicial Training Program on Dispute Resolution. This training provides an opportunity to explore how the Japanese justice system approaches dispute resolution through settlement, mediation, and effective judicial case management. The program introduces participants to Japan’s settlement and mediation systems, including the techniques and theory of mediation, as well as facilitative and evaluative approaches. Participants also learn about preparatory proceedings, the arrangement of issues and evidence, and the role of judges in settlement and judgment. Through lectures, discussions, mock preparatory proceedings, and direct observation of judicial institutions, the training connects legal theory with practical judicial experience. More…

Trust is perhaps the most valuable currency a nation possesses. Unlike money, it cannot be printed overnight. Unlike buildings, it cannot be rebuilt simply by laying new foundations. Once trust begins to erode, every institution, regardless of how sophisticated its regulations may appear, finds itself standing on increasingly fragile ground. Banks exist because society chooses to trust them. Every time someone deposits their salary, sets aside savings for a child’s education, or entrusts decades of hard work to a financial institution, they are doing something remarkably simple yet profoundly significant. They are expressing confidence that tomorrow will honor today’s promises.…

1. Prologue: Bridging Law and Humanity For decades, Indonesia’s legal system has been characterized by rigid statutes, often functioning as an automated, retributive framework where the mechanics of judgment overshadowed the human reality of the cases before the court. The enactment of Supreme Court Regulation (PERMA) No. 3 of 2026 marks a transformative shift. Grounded in Article 246, paragraph (4) of Law No. 20 of 2025 (the Criminal Procedure Code), this regulation acknowledges that the law is not an end in itself, but a servant of justice. By institutionalizing Putusan Pemaafan Hakim (Judicial Pardon), PERMA No. 3 of 2026 introduces…

Law often reveals its true character not in ordinary times, but in moments of crisis. Few crimes challenge the conscience of a nation as profoundly as terrorism. It does not merely destroy buildings or claim innocent lives. It attempts to fracture something far more fundamental, namely the collective confidence that society can live together peacefully despite differences. Every terrorist attack leaves visible scars, yet the invisible wounds of fear, mistrust, and social polarization frequently endure much longer than the physical damage itself. This reality presents judges with an extraordinary dilemma. Society understandably demands firmness. Victims seek justice. The State seeks…

Jakarta, 20 Mei 2026 – Mahkamah Agung Republik Indonesia melalui Badan Strategi Kebijakan dan Pendidikan dan Pelatihan Hukum dan Peradilan menyusun Naskah Urgensi dan Draft Peraturan Mahkamah Agung tentang Pemeriksaan Setempat dalam Proses Peradilan. Penyusunan ini menjadi langkah strategis untuk memperkuat dasar hukum, menyatukan pedoman teknis, serta meningkatkan kualitas pembuktian di empat lingkungan peradilan. Pemeriksaan Setempat atau descente selama ini dikenal dalam praktik peradilan, terutama dalam perkara yang membutuhkan verifikasi langsung terhadap objek sengketa. Namun, praktik tersebut masih menghadapi persoalan ketidakseragaman prosedur, variasi biaya, dokumentasi yang belum standar, serta belum adanya pengaturan teknis yang komprehensif dalam bentuk Peraturan Mahkamah Agung.…

Jakarta, 12 Mei 2026 — BSDK Mahkamah Agung RI melalui unsur yustisial melaksanakan Rapat Koordinasi Lanjutan dalam Penyusunan Draft Naskah Kebijakan “Penguatan Dasar Hukum dan Pedoman Pemeriksaan Setempat di Empat Lingkungan Peradilan”, pada Selasa, 12 Mei 2026. Kegiatan ini menjadi bagian penting dalam proses penyusunan naskah kebijakan yang berfokus pada penguatan dasar hukum, standardisasi prosedur, serta penyusunan pedoman pemeriksaan setempat dalam proses peradilan. Rapat koordinasi tersebut membahas penyempurnaan substansi BAB I tentang Pendahuluan, BAB II tentang Analisis Permasalahan, dan BAB III tentang Rekomendasi, sekaligus melakukan sinkronisasi dengan rencana norma Rancangan Peraturan Mahkamah Agung serta persiapan uji publik internal draft naskah…

Berikut adalah analisis hukum mendalam mengenai penerapan Pasal 9 terkait penggunaan Drone dan Data Spasial dalam proses peradilan, khususnya pada tahap Pemeriksaan Setempat (PS). Penerapan teknologi drone dalam ranah hukum bukan sekadar pembaruan alat teknis, melainkan sebuah pergeseran paradigma dalam hukum acara (formal) untuk mencapai kebenaran materiil. 1. Drone sebagai Perpanjangan Indera Hakim (Extension of Senses) Secara tradisional, Pemeriksaan Setempat mengandalkan observasi visual langsung oleh hakim di lapangan. Namun, keterbatasan sudut pandang manusia sering kali menimbulkan kendala pada objek sengketa yang luas atau memiliki topografi sulit. 2. Integrasi UU ITE dan Mitigasi Risiko Kepatuhan Ayat (1) terhadap UU ITE (Informasi…