RADAR TULUNGAGUNG–  Anwar Usman final hearing at the Constitutional Court drew national attention after the senior judge delivered a public apology before reading what may become his last ruling before retirement. The farewell moment took place during a plenary hearing on Monday, when he addressed the courtroom and acknowledged the end of his long service as one of Indonesia’s constitutional judges.

The statement quickly became a major public discussion because Anwar Usman final hearing arrived at a politically sensitive moment, considering his long career and the controversies that shaped his final years at the court.

During the hearing, Anwar Usman openly asked forgiveness for anything that may have caused discomfort during his 15 years of service. He spoke shortly before reading Decision Number 176/PUU-XXIII/2025 inside the plenary chamber of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia.

Farewell Statement Delivered Before Final Court Decision

Anwar Usman began his statement by informing the courtroom that the hearing could be the last official session he would attend as a constitutional judge.

He explained that his term will formally end on April 6, 2026, marking exactly 15 years since he first joined the Constitutional Court.

Before continuing with the legal ruling, he said that such a long period of service naturally included actions or decisions that may have disappointed some parties, whether intentional or not.

Because of that, he expressed what he described as a sincere apology to everyone present and to the wider public.

The statement created a calm atmosphere in the courtroom because it came directly before he continued reading the verdict.

Retirement Comes After Fifteen Years at the Court

Anwar Usman entered the Constitutional Court in 2011 and later became one of its most influential figures.

Over the years, he handled many judicial review cases involving major constitutional debates and national legal questions.

His retirement now follows the completion of the full constitutional service term allowed under existing regulations.

In addition to reaching the end of his term in April, Anwar Usman will also turn 70 years old on December 31, 2026, the age that marks the upper limit for constitutional judicial service.

This combination of tenure completion and age requirement makes his departure legally expected.

Public Focus Returns to His Final Days in Office

Although the farewell statement sounded personal, public attention quickly returned to the broader political context surrounding his final months in office.

Anwar Usman remains widely known because of his family connection to Joko Widodo, as he is the brother-in-law of the former president.

That relationship drew national scrutiny during several major court decisions in recent years.

His name became especially prominent after the Constitutional Court handled the judicial review concerning the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

That ruling later allowed Gibran Rakabuming Raka to qualify for the vice-presidential election.

Ethics Case Still Shapes Public Perception

The public still closely associates Anwar Usman with the ethics ruling issued in late 2023.

At that time, the Constitutional Court’s Honorary Council declared that he had committed a serious ethical violation related to conflict of interest.

The council then removed him from his position as Chief Justice but allowed him to remain a constitutional judge until the end of his term.

That decision became one of the most discussed institutional ethics cases in recent Indonesian legal history.

Even after the sanction, he continued serving as a member of the bench under specific restrictions.

Monday Session Becomes Symbolic Closing Chapter

The Monday plenary session therefore carried more symbolic meaning than an ordinary court hearing.

Many legal observers viewed the apology as an important closing gesture after years of intense public debate.

Although Anwar Usman did not directly mention past controversies in his statement, his words immediately reminded many people of the events that changed his public image.

His delivery remained brief and formal, consistent with the style usually maintained during Constitutional Court proceedings.

Constitutional Court Enters Transition Period

As his retirement approaches, the Constitutional Court now enters another transition phase.

A senior judge leaving after 15 years often affects institutional dynamics, especially because experience and internal leadership usually influence how major constitutional cases move forward.

The court will continue handling important legal reviews in the coming months, but Anwar Usman final hearing already marks the beginning of a new chapter inside the institution.

For now, his farewell statement closes a long judicial period that combined constitutional authority, public scrutiny, and political significance.