Jakarta – Supreme Court Chief Justice Hatta Ali has sworn in four new justices – Amran Suadi, Is Sudaryono, Purwosusilo and Sudrajat Dimyati – in a ceremony at the court in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Court spokesman Ridwan Mansyur said the installation of the four new justices would hopefully help the court accelerate its work to settle cases.

"With the four new justices, the number of justices has increased to 51," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Ridwan further said the court was thankful to the Judicial Commission and the House of Representatives, which endorsed the four justices.

Ridwan said the four new justices were career judges. "They are all career justices, so they won't need adjust to their new positions. They can just start working," he said.

Ridwan said that next year, the court would propose the recruitment of new justices to bring the number up to the required 60.

In the selection of Supreme Court justice candidates in 2014, the Judicial Commission recommended five justice candidates to the House for approval. Only four judges passed House screening, however, while Papua High Court judge Muslich Bambang Luqmono was rejected.

Justices Amran and Purwosusilo will be assigned to handle cases in the court's religious affairs division, Justice Dimyati to the civil court division and Justice Sudaryono to the administrative high court division. (dyl/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/21/supreme-court-get-four-new-justices.html