Five Model Courts Modernized

Justice seekers and the public now have access to information in the court

indonesia.usaid.gov/en | 8 April 2010 |  Jakarta - In 2004 the Indonesia Supreme Court adopted a set of blueprints for reforming and modernizing Indonesia’s anti-corruption and commercial court as part of its 10-year work plan in the judicial system.  USAID’s Anti-Corruption and Commercial Court Enhancement (In-ACCE) project assisted the Supreme Court in achieving the reform strategies set forth in the blueprints beginning in 2005.

The In-ACCE Project introduced new information and communication technology to five commercial courts designated as model courts.  They were located in Jakarta Pusat, Semarang, Surabaya, Medan, and Makassar.  The new technology --  the automated Case Management System (CMS) -- is an important court management tool that records data electronically through the use of computers and specially designed case management software.  The CMS provides courts with the means to track, verify, and locate all files within the court.  It also helps manage individual workloads, monitor judicial performance, lessen opportunities for corruption, and improve the management capacity of the court’s leadership.

The CMS system was chosen because it had been previously successfully implemented in another civil law court system, similar to Indonesia’s and could be easily adapted here. The objective was to enable the public to easily access data and information on court proceedings, absolutely essential for justice seekers in need of transparency and open access to information in the court.

USAID did more than simply provide new technology.  All model courts also received training in basic computer skills.  It was equally important to change the behavior of court staff not accustomed to making information more freely accessible to the public.  

No less important, the court established a public information desk to enable the general public to inquire about cases, the court’s workings and how to locate various courtrooms.  The information desk includes LCD screens displaying up-to-date case information on hearing times and locations. Court representatives are available to respond to questions.