Reconstruction Of The Norms Regulation Of The Clerkship At The Supreme Court From The Perspective Of A Pancasila-Based State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62710/vspmpj54Keywords:
Supreme Court Clerkship; Normative Legal Reconstruction; Pancasila Rule of Law; Merit System; Judicial ProfessionalismAbstract
This study examines the reconstruction of the norms governing the clerkship system within the Supreme Court from the perspective of the Pancasila rule of law, focusing on the regulatory inconsistency concerning the appointment of clerks in appellate and first-instance courts. The issue arises from a policy shift that restricts clerk appointments to judges, creating inconsistencies with the merit system, legal certainty, and career development of judicial clerical personnel. This research employs a normative legal method using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. The findings indicate that such restrictions do not fully reflect the principles of professionalism, as they disregard the competence and experience of judicial clerical officers in case administration. Consequently, the policy limits career advancement opportunities for qualified clerical personnel and reduces the effectiveness of judicial administration. The proposed normative reconstruction emphasizes a competency-, experience-, and qualification-based career system without restricting appointments to a particular professional background. This reconstruction is expected to establish a more professional, equitable, and sustainable clerkship system consistent with the values of the Pancasila rule of law and the merit principle in judicial governance.
Downloads
References
A. Book
Asshiddiqie, J. (2005). The Indonesian Constitution and Constitutionalism (Revised Edition). Constitution Press.
Asshiddiqie, J. (2021). The Indonesian Constitution and Constitutionalism . Sinar Grafika.
Asshiddiqie, J. (2006). Introduction to Constitutional Law (Volume I). Secretariat General and Registrar's Office of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia. https://dkpp.go.id/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/pengantar_ilmu_hukum_tata_negara.pdf.pdf
Asshiddiqie, J., & Safa'at, MA (2006). Hans Kelsen's theory of law . Constitution Press.
Aristotle. (1984). Nicomachean ethics (WD Ross, Trans.; J. Barnes, Ed.). Princeton University Press.
Austin, J. (1832). The province of jurisprudence determined . John Murray. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Province-of-JurisprudenceDetermined
Briet, C. J. A. (2015). Het Hooggerechtshof van Nederlands-Indie 1819–1848: Portret van een vergeten rechtscollege (Doctoral dissertation, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam). https://repub.eur.nl/pub/78675/Proefschrift_Briet_elektronische_versie.pdf
Dicey, A. V. (1915). Introduction to the study of the law of the constitution (8th ed.). Macmillan. https://files.libertyfund.org/files/1714/0125_Bk.pdf
Hadjon, PM, et al. (2008). Introduction to Indonesian Administrative Law (10th ed.). Gadjah Mada University Press. https://ugmpress.ugm.ac.id/id/product/hukum/pengantar-hukum-administrasi-indonesia
Hart, H.L.A. (1994). The concept of law (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://archive.org/details/conceptoflaw00hart
Holvast, N. L. (2017). In the shadow of the judge: The involvement of judicial assistants in Dutch district courts . Eleven International Publishing. https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/17068608/3..pdf
Ibrahim, J. (2006). Normative legal research theory and methodology . Bayumedia Publishing.
Indroharto. (1993). Efforts to understand the law on state administrative courts (Book I, 4th edition). Sinar Harapan Library.
Kelsen, H. (2008). Pure legal theory: The foundations of normative legal science (R. Muttaqien, Trans.). Nusa Media.
Logemann, JHA (1975). On the theory of positive constitutional law (Makkatutu & JC Pangkerego, Trans.). Ichtiar Baru – Van Hoeve. https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail.jsp?id=20164271
Lotulung, PE (2013). State Administrative Law and Power . Salemba Humanika. https://simpus.mkri.id/opac/detail-opac?id=9318
Manan, B. (2004). Indonesian Positive Law: A Theoretical Study . Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia Press. https://karyabagirmanan.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/hukumpositif-indonesia/
Manan, B. (2001). Welcoming the dawn of regional autonomy . Center for Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia. https://balaiyanpus.jogjaprov.go.id/opac/detail-opac?id=19957
Marzuki, PM (2017). Legal research (Revised edition). Kencana Prenada Media Group.
Mertokusumo, S. (2016). Understanding the Law: An Introduction . Cahaya Atma Pusaka. https://simpus.mkri.id/opac/detail-opac?id=5993
Notonagoro. (1995). Pancasila in popular science . Bumi Aksara.
Peppers, T. C. (2006). Courtiers of the marble palace: The rise and influence of the Supreme Court law clerk . Stanford Law and Politics.
Rahardjo, S. (2000). Legal science . PT Citra Aditya Bakti.
Rahardjo, S. (2006). Analyzing progressive law . Kompas. https://simpus.mkri.id/opac/detail-opac?id=9038
Rahardjo, S. (2009). Progressive Law: A Synthesis of Indonesian Law . Genta Publishing. https://digilib.uki.ac.id/index.php?p=show_detail&id=2233
Rahardjo, S. (2021). Legal Science (9th Edition). PT Citra Aditya Bakti. https://citraaditya.com/product/ilmu-hukum-cet-ix-2021_prof-dr-satjiptorahardjo-sh/
Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice . Harvard University Press.
Rawls, J. (2001). Justice as fairness: A restatement (E. Kelly, Ed.). Harvard University Press.
Sidharta, BA (2009). Reflections on the structure of legal science . Mandar Maju.
Soeprapto, MFI (2007). Legal science: Types, functions, and content . Kanisius.
Supreme Court of Japan. (2018). Court system of Japan . https://www.courts.go.jp/english/vc-files/courtsen/file/2018_Court_System_of_Japan.pdf
Wahjono, P. (1979). Indonesia is a country based on law . Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia.
Wahjono, P. (1986). Indonesia is a state based on law . Ghalia Indonesia.
Wahjono, P. (1989). Legal development in Indonesia . Ind-Hill Co.
Ward, A., & Weiden, D. L. (2006). Sorcerers' apprentices: 100 years of law clerks at the United States Supreme Court . New York University Press. https://books.google.com/books/about/Sorcerers_Apprentices.html?id=7WKnLqdXH90C
B. Journals, Dissertations, Theses, and Scientific Works
Attamimi, AHS (1990). The role of the decisions of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the administration of state governance (Doctoral dissertation, University of Indonesia). https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=20133433
Bhakti, TS (2014). Draft Law on the Supreme Court (RUU MA): A study of philosophy, history, principles, and norms in the dynamics of the development of Indonesian constitutional law. Journal of Law and Justice, 3 (2), 137–148. https://www.jurnalhukumdanperadilan.org/jurnalhukumperadilan/article/download/92/103
The existence of non-career paths in the selection of Supreme Court judges. (2018). Journal of the Judicial Commission . https://jurnal.komisiyudisial.go.id/index.php/jy/article/download/478/pdf/2961
Gunarto. (2023). Reconstruction of government administrative law (Doctoral dissertation, Sultan Agung Islamic University).
Holvast, N. L. (2016). The power of the judicial assistant/law clerk: Looking behind the scenes at courts in the United States, England and Wales, and the Netherlands. International Journal for Court Administration, 7 (2), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.18352/ijca.200
Irfani, N. (2020a). The principles of lex superior, lex specialis, and lex posterior: Meaning, problems, and use in legal reasoning. Indonesian Journal of Legislation, 17 (3), 305–325. https://doi.org/10.54629/JLI.V17I3.711
Irfani, N. (2020b). Misinterpretation of Gustav Radbruch's ideas regarding the doctrine of basic legal values. Undang: Jurnal Hukum . https://ujh.unja.ac.id/index.php/home/article/download/736/80
Iskandar, R. (2025). Reconstruction of regulations for terminating prosecutions in corruption cases involving small state losses based on Pancasila justice values (Doctoral dissertation, Sultan Agung Islamic University). https://repository.unissula.ac.id/41018/
Kadir, A. (2015). The concept of judges as state officials from the perspective of ius constitutum and ius constituendum in Indonesia (Dissertation, University of 17 August 1945 Surabaya).
The position and function of Pancasila in the hierarchy of laws and regulations. (2026). Al-Zayn Journal . https://ejournal.yayasanpendidikandzurriyatulquran.id/index.php/AlZayn/article/download/6798/4690/26292
Kozuka, S. (2022). The style and role of judgments by Japanese courts. Zeitschrift für Japanisches Recht . https://www.zjapanr.de/index.php/zjapanr/article/view/1442/1470
Mohamad, R., & Samsudin, T. (2021). The main roles, duties, and functions of clerks/substitute clerks in religious courts. Al-Himayah, 5 (1), 32–49. https://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/ah/article/view/2419
Muzdalifah. (2009). The position of court clerks after the amendment to Law No. 7 of 1989 concerning religious courts (Thesis, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta).
The application of the value of social justice in the fifth principle of Pancasila. (2024). Indonesian Legislation Journal (CIRAJA) . https://journal.ciraja.com/index.php/JLI/article/download/81/62
Prasetyo, T. (2014). Building national law based on Pancasila. Journal of Law and Justice, 3 (3), 213–222.
Rachmawati, et al. (2023). The use of Pancasila's legal ideals (rechtsidee) in the formation of law. Soedirman Law Review, 5 (2). https://journal.fh.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/SLR/article/view/212
Rahardjo, S. (2005). Progressive law: Law that liberates. Journal of Progressive Law, 1 (1), 1–24.
Rasidi, & Al Farizi, MK (2025). Implementation of the second principle of Pancasila in protecting human rights. Nusantara: Journal of Education, Arts, Sciences and Social Humanities, 2 (2). https://journal.forikami.com/index.php/nusantara/article/view/824
Reconstruction of career development in clerkships. (2016). Journal of Law and Justice . https://jurnalhukumdanperadilan.org/jurnalhukumperadilan/article/download/29/41
Sanders, A. (2020). Judicial assistants in Europe: A comparative analysis. International Journal for Court Administration, 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.36745/ijca.360
Sanders, A., & Holvast, N.L. (2020). Empirical studies on the role and influence of judicial assistants and tribunal secretaries. International Journal for Court Administration, 11 (3). https://doi.org/10.36745/ijca.359
Subechi, I. (2012). Realizing the rule of law in Indonesia. Journal of Law and Justice, 1 (3), 339–358.
Suhariyanto, B. (2016). Reconstruction of career development of functional positions of substitute court clerks in Indonesia. Journal of Law and Justice, 5 (3), 391–406. https://doi.org/10.25216/jhp.5.3.2016.391-406
Tampubolon, MBK (2010). Factors influencing court performance in the civil case resolution process in district courts (Thesis, Diponegoro University).
Analysis of Gustav Radbruch's theory of legal objectives. (2024). Sangaji: Journal of Sharia and Legal Thought . https://ejournal.iaimbima.ac.id/index.php/sangaji/article/download/3463/1179/
C. Legislation
Indonesia. (1945). The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia .
Indonesia. (1985). Law Number 14 of 1985 concerning the Supreme Court . State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia 1985 Number 73, Supplement to the State Gazette Number 3316. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/46965/uu-no-14-tahun-1985
Indonesia. (1999). Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption .
Indonesia. (2001). Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendments to Law No. 31 of 1999 .
Indonesia. (2004). Law Number 5 of 2004 concerning Amendments to Law Number 14 of 1985 concerning the Supreme Court . State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia 2004 Number 9. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/38580/uu-no-5-tahun-2004
Indonesia. (2004). Law Number 2 of 2004 concerning the Settlement of Industrial Relations Disputes . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/40585/uu-no-2-tahun-2004
Indonesia. (2009). Law Number 3 of 2009 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 14 of 1985 concerning the Supreme Court . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/38574/uu-no-3-tahun-2009
Indonesia. (2009). Law Number 46 of 2009 concerning the Corruption Court . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/38791/uu-no-46-tahun-2009
Indonesia. (2009). Law Number 48 of 2009 concerning Judicial Power . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Download/28122/UU%20Nomor%2048%20Tahun%202009.pdf
Indonesia. (2009). Law Number 49 of 2009 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 2 of 1986 concerning General Courts .
Indonesia. (2011). Law Number 12 of 2011 concerning the Formation of Legislation . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/38771/uu-no-12-tahun-2011
Indonesia. (2014). Law Number 5 of 2014 concerning State Civil Apparatus . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/38580/uu-no-5-tahun-2014
Indonesia. (2023). Law Number 20 of 2023 concerning State Civil Apparatus . https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/269470/uu-no-20-tahun-2023
Indonesia. (nd). Criminal Code (KUHP) .
Indonesia. (2005). Presidential Regulation Number 14 of 2005 concerning the Supreme Court Clerkship . https://bphn.go.id/data/documents/05pr014.pdf
Indonesia. (2010). Presidential Regulation Number 81 of 2010 concerning the Grand Design of Bureaucratic Reform 2010–2025 .
Indonesia. (2022). Presidential Regulation Number 123 of 2022 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation No. 14 of 2005. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/230046/perpres-no-123-tahun-2022
Indonesia. (2017). Government Regulation Number 11 of 2017 concerning Civil Servant Management . https://www.bkn.go.id/regulation/peraturan-pemerintah-republik-indonesia-nomor-11-tahun-2017/
Indonesia. (2023). Regulation of the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Number 1 of 2023 concerning Functional Positions . https://www.mediajustitia.com/data-center/peraturan-menteri-pendayagunaan-aparatur-negara-dan-reformasi-birokrasi-no-1-tahun-2023-tentang-jabatan-fungsional/
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2008). Supreme Court Regulation Number 1 of 2008 concerning Mediation Procedures in Court .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2015). Supreme Court Regulation Number 7 of 2015 concerning the Organization and Work Procedures of the Supreme Court Clerkship and Secretariat .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Supreme Court Regulation Number 1 of 2016 concerning Mediation Procedures in Court .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Supreme Court Regulation Number 8 of 2016 concerning Supervision and Development .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Supreme Court Regulation Number 9 of 2016 concerning Guidelines for Handling Complaints .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2013). Decree of the Chief Justice Number 122/KMA/SK/VII/2013 concerning the Code of Ethics for Court Clerks and Bailiffs . https://www.pnbuntok.go.id/images/kode_etik_panitera_jurusita.pdf
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2013). Decision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Number 140/KMA/SK/VIII/2013 concerning Promotion and Transfer Patterns for Clerkships .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2025). Circular Letter of the Supreme Court Secretary Number 4 of 2025. https://jdih.mahkamahagung.go.id/download-filesatker/se-sekma-nomor-4-tahun-2025
Judicial Commission of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Judicial Commission Regulation Number 2 of 2016 concerning the Selection of Supreme Court Justices . https://jdih.komisiyudisial.go.id/produkhukum-berkas-download/32
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2016). Decision Number 70/PUU-XIV/2016 . https://mkri.id/public/content/persidangan/putusan/70_PUU-XIV_2016.pdf
Dutch. (2021). Wet op de Rechterlijke Organisatie (Consolidation 1 July 2021). https://www.ndfr.nl/content/BWBR0001830-20210701
Japan. (1947). Courts Act (Act No. 59 of 1947) . https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3225/en
D. Internet Sources
Administrative Office of the US Courts. (nd). Court officers and staff . https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure
National Legal Development Agency. (nd). Academic manuscript of draft law . https://bphn.go.id/data/documents/na_ruu_tangan_ Hukum_acr_perdata.pdf
Columbia Law Review. (2023, October 31). Some are more equal than others: US Supreme Court clerkships . https://columbialawreview.org/content/some-are-more-equal-than-others-us-supreme-court-clerkships/
Dandapala. (2025, February 6). Dutch colonial courts from the Landraad to the Hooggerechtshof . https://www.dandapala.com/article/detail/pengadilan-era-kolonial-belanda-dari-landraad-sampai-hooggerechtshof
Federal Judicial Center. (nd). Court officers and staff: Law clerks . https://www.fjc.gov/history/administration/court-officers-and-staff-law-clerks
Hoge Raad der Nederlanden. (nd). About the Supreme Court . https://www.hogeraad.nl/english/
Hoge Raad der Nederlanden. (2023). Jaarverslag 2023 . https://www.eerstekamer.nl/bijlage/20240403/jaarverslag_2023_hoge_raad_der/document3/f=/vmc3i0dyjpmq.pdf
Hukumonline. (2020, August 4). 4 main changes in the PP on civil servant management . https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/a/4-pokok-perubahan-dalam-pp-manajemen-pns-lt5f2a2e6447640/
Hukumonline. (2017, April 5). This is the Supreme Court's ruling on the DPD's controversial rules of procedure . https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/a/inilah-putusan-ma-tentang-tatib-dpd-yang-diributkan-lt58e464e838cf0/
The Registrar's Office of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2020). 2019 Annual Report . https://kepaniteraan.mahkamahagung.go.id/images/laporan_tahunan/LAPTAH%20030220.pdf
Indonesian Judicial Commission. (2018). KY holds seminar: The existence of non-career paths in CHA selection . https://komisiyudisial.go.id/frontend/pers_release_detail/73/ky-gelar-seminarekisitas-jalur-nonkarier-dalam-seleksi-cha
Kumparan. (2021, February 2). The case of the judicial mafia of former clerk Rohadi revealed . https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/kasus-mafia-peradilan-eks-panitera-rohadi-terungkap-ada-suap-hingga-miliaran-1v65lZ6FFex
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2010). Blueprint for judicial reform 2010–2035 .
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). Annual Report 2023. https://kepaniteraan.mahkamahagung.go.id/images/laporan_tahunan/FALAPTAH_MA_2023-_low.pdf
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (nd). Annotation of Law No. 14 of 1985 concerning the Supreme Court . https://mkri.id/public/content/infoumum/undang/pdf/Anotation_20_Anotation%20nuzul%20MA%20No%2014%20thn%201985.pdf
Nursobah, A. (2021, October 19). The career paths of 8 young clerks to the seat of supreme court justice . Supreme Court Registrar's Office of the Republic of Indonesia. https://kepaniteraan.mahkamahagung.go.id/registry-news/1887-jejak-karir-8-panitera-muda-menuju-kursi-hakim-agung
Office of Career Services, United States Courts. (nd). Qualifications, salary, and benefits . https://oscar.uscourts.gov/qualifications_salary_benefits
SMARTID. (2025). Understanding the merit system in ASN management . https://smartid.co.id/en/memahami-sistem-merit-dalam-manajemen-aparatur-sipil-negara-asn-berdasarkan-uu-nomor-20-tahun-2023/
Supreme Court of Japan. (nd). The Training and Research Institute for Court Officials . https://www.courts.go.jp/english/institute_02/institute/index.html
United States Courts. (nd). Supreme court procedures . https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/supreme-court-procedures
Universiteit van Amsterdam. (nd). The involvement of judicial assistants in Dutch district courts . https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/17068608/3..pdf
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 R. Seno Soeharjono Santoso, Agus Surono, Adnan Hamid, Zaitun Abdullah (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
