The Looming Judges Shortage

In early February, while presiding over a marathon session of witness testimony at Lampung's Kalianda District Court, Judge Muhammad Iqbal desperately needed a bathroom break. After questioning five witnesses, he had one more to go, after which he could finally steal away to the restroom. "It's tiresome, but I have to hold on," Iqbal told Tempo.

The Kalianda District Court is swamped with cases. Every year, the court accepts no fewer than 634 cases. These are distributed among just nine judges, meaning that on average, one judge presides over seven civil and criminal cases at a time. Hearings begin at 8am and frequently do not end until the stars come out. "Given this high volume of cases, we really should have 15 judges," Iqbal said.

February 24, 2015