Indonesian legal and judicial reforms

Indonesia is undergoing significant legal reforms aimed at modernizing its judicial framework and professional regulations.

In June 2026, the Constitutional Court issued Decision No. 126/PUU-XXIV/2026, declaring the existing Advocate Law (Law No. 18 of 2003) conditionally unconstitutional. The court mandated that the law be amended or replaced within two years to separate the representative functions of advocate organizations from their regulatory functions, seeking to improve professional integrity and public trust.

Parallel to these professional reforms, the implementation of a new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) is expected to shift the national legal paradigm from retribution toward restorative justice. These new codes aim to replace colonial-era Dutch laws by introducing alternative punishments for minor offenses, such as social work, and expanding mediation opportunities. The reforms also include 11 specific privileges for legal practitioners to strengthen legal assistance and protect human rights through improved due process and victim restitution.