BALANCING RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS AND LEGAL NEUTRALITY: THE INDEPENDENCE OF INDONESIA'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

This article examines the independence of the Indonesian Constitutional Court in relation to religious issues, particularly regarding religious freedom and marriage regulations. Utilizing a socio-legal approach, the article analyzes five judgments and assesses whether the Court accommodates the aspirations of the religious majority while still maintaining neutrality. Results show that the Court's legal decisions tend to accommodate societal aspirations, but this does not necessarily indicate a lack of neutrality. The article asserts that the independence and neutrality of the judiciary are crucial in a rule of law state, and the Court must balance societal aspirations with its role as a legal decision-making body. The Court's independence should be evaluated based on the methodological consistency of its legal decisions. Overall, the article highlights the importance of judicial independence and neutrality in a rule of law state, with implications for Indonesia's Constitutional Court and other similar legal systems.