The Constitutional Court’s Judicial Activism in Indonesia: Constitutional Boundaries and a Progressive Legal Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64780/rolsj.v2i1.209Keywords:
Constitutional Court, Judicial Activism, Progressive Law, Judicial Review, Indonesian Constitutional Law.Abstract
Background:The Constitutional Court plays a strategic role in Indonesia's constitutional system as the guardian of the constitution, authorized to review laws against the 1945 Constitution. In practice, several Constitutional Court decisions demonstrate a tendency toward judicial activism, where judges not only interpret legal norms but also expand or create new ones. This phenomenon has given rise to debate regarding the limits of the Constitutional Court's authority within the framework of the separation of powers and its implications for the development of national law.
Aims:This study aims to analyze the role of the Constitutional Court in implementing judicial activism and assess the effectiveness of this practice from a progressive legal perspective.
Methods:This study uses a normative legal research approach with a statute approach, a case approach, and a conceptual approach. The research data was obtained through a literature review, which included primary legal materials in the form of legislation and Constitutional Court decisions, as well as secondary legal materials in the form of books, scientific journals, and academic literature. Data analysis was conducted qualitatively through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing.
Result:The research findings indicate that the Constitutional Court has implemented judicial activism in several of its decisions, reflected in decisions that are corrective, protective, and adaptive to social dynamics. This practice is evident in several important decisions that broaden the interpretation of legal norms to protect citizens' constitutional rights and fill legal gaps in the legal system.
Conclusion:From a progressive legal perspective, the practice of judicial activism can be understood as the Constitutional Court's effort to achieve substantive justice in the Indonesian legal system. However, the implementation of this practice must adhere to the principle of separation of powers to avoid shifting authority between the judiciary and the legislature in a constitutional democratic system.
References
Alfidyah, M. (2025). Implementation of the Principles of the Rule of Law in Upholding Human Rights in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Legal Studies, 1(1), 1–9.
Ambarwati, D. (2024). The Urgency of Legal Reform in the "Metaverse" Era from a Progressive Legal Perspective | Dialektika: Journal of Economics and Social Sciences. https://ejournal.uniramalang.ac.id/dialektika/article/view/1306
Hasan, Z., Majidah, S., Yansah, A., Salsabila, RF, & Wirantika, MS (2024). The Constitution as a Legal Basis in the Development of the National Legal System. Student Scientific Journal, 2(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.31539/jima.v2i1.745
Hasanah, GN, & Kharisma, DB (2022). The existence of judicial activism in constitutional practice by the Constitutional Court. Sovereignty, 1(4), 734–744. https://doi.org/10.13057/souvereignty.v1i4.122
Hidayah, AN (2025). The role of the constitutional court in enforcing constitutional law in Indonesia. Lentera Ilmu, 2(1), 31–37.
Irawan, S. (2025). A legal review of the division of power in Indonesia based on the trias politica theory. Justici, 18(2), 53–59. https://doi.org/10.35449/justici.v18i2.1059
Julranda, R., Siagian, MG, & Zalukhu, MAP (2022). The application of progressive law as a paradigm for national legal development in the draft law on indigenous legal communities. CREPIDO, 4(2), 171–183. https://doi.org/10.14710/crepido.4.2.171-183
Purba, AR (2024). The function of the constitutional court in enforcing constitutional law. DARMA AGUNG JOURNAL, 32(6), 348–354. https://doi.org/10.46930/ojsuda.v32i6.5093
Putra, A. (2021). The final and binding nature of the Constitutional Court's decision in judicial review. Judicial Journal, 14(3), 291–311. https://doi.org/10.29123/jy.v14i3.425
Raharjo, S., Anindita, A., & Karim, A. (2023). A comprehensive review of human rights in the context of the constitutional law system. Juris Humanity: Journal of Research and Study of Human Rights Law, 2(2), 22–35. https://doi.org/10.37631/jrkhm.v2i2.28
Roux, T.R. (2021). Judicial Activism (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 3923921). Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3923921
Rozaq, MA, Batara, SD, & Jaya, MR (2024). The Urgency of Checks and Balances by the Constitutional Court through Judicial Activism in the Practice of Democracy in Indonesia. UNES Law Review, 6(3), 8796–8805. https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v6i3.1780
Ru'ati, A., Nirahua, G., & Soplantila, R. (2022). The Executorial Power of Constitutional Court Decisions, Which Are Final and Binding in Indonesia. PATTIMURA Legal Journal, 1(1), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.47268/pela.v1i1.5899
Ruhenda, R., Heldi, H., Mustapa, H., & Septiadi, MA (2020). A Review of the Trias Politica on the Formation of the Political and Governmental System in Indonesia. Journal of Governance and Social Policy, 1(2), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.24815/gaspol.v1i2.18221
Sarumpaet1, MI, Harahap, HH, & Lubis, F. (2024). The Role of Legal Politics in Progressive Legal Development in Indonesia. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 4(4), 3991–4003. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i4.12848
Setyawan, VP (2025). Liberating Law: A Synthesis of Progressive Law and Juridical Humanism. Legal Advice Journal of Law, 2(1), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.51454/jq94z825
Siregar, M. (2024). Progressive Legal Theory in the Concept of the Indonesian Legal State. Muhammadiyah Law Review, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.24127/mlr.v8i2.3567
Syailendra, MR, Elia, Natanael, J., & Kurniawan, MH (2024). The role of the constitution in maintaining the principles of democracy and the rule of law in Indonesia. Multilingual: Journal of Universal Studies, 4(4), 250–264.
Vicenzo, R., & Sitabuana, TH (2022). The position and role of the constitutional court in the state system. SERINA PROCEEDINGS, 2(1), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.24912/pserina.v2i1.18520
Walangitan, S. (2025). The independence of the constitutional court amid political pressure. Indonesia Journal of Business Law, 4(2), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.47709/ijbl.v4i2.6596
Wijaya, IMO (2022). Restorative Justice in Progressive Legal Review: Existence and Implications. Empowered Indonesia, 3(3), 707–718. https://doi.org/10.47679/ib.2022297
Zahra, A., Charisma, CAT, Azaby, MAR, & Fadilah, SN (2022). The Theory of Separation of Powers Trias Politica in Montesquieu's Legal Philosophy. Praxis: Journal of Applied Philosophy, 1(01). https://journal.forikami.com/index.php/praxis/article/view/533
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tegar Maisa Julian, Qurrotul Uyun
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.