What Makes a Good Judge? Perspectives from Indonesia

Abstract In May 2018, Artidjo Alkostar retired from the Supreme Court of Indonesia after a judicial career spanning almost two decades. Over this period, he presided over many Indonesia’s most prominent and controversial criminal cases became renowned for routinely rejecting corruption appeals increasing prison sentences. celebratory publications that marked his retirement, was held up as model judge, with senior legal figures, including judges, singling out strong work ethic, integrity, simplicity character, firmness. Curiously absent list praiseworthy attributes were pre-requisites effective judging, adequate knowledge, transparent reasoning decision-making, objectivity avoiding perception bias. An analysis Alkostar’s notorious decisions suggests he, judges who served him, did not always clearly display these pre-requisites. This article considers what says about judging in might, practice, be defining characteristics good judge there.