UNAIR NEWS – We still remember recent news on the poor control of one of the state institutions. In response to that issue, Human Rights Law Studies (HRLS), Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga held a follow-up discussion entitled “Learning Professional Ethics from Japan and America”.

Japan and America are countries with a very good legal system. By presenting two experts Prof. Dr. Yuzuru Simada (GSID Nagoya University) and Prof. Franz Limahelu (Lecturer of Philosophy and Legal Professional Ethics), they had a very interesting discussion.

The first presentation was delivered by Prof. Yuzuru. He said that in his country the bribery of judges rarely happens or is almost never found for many years.

This, he added, only happens because of several factors. Moral lessons have been instilled since childhood in Japan during elementary school and the process of recruitment of judges in Japan is very strict. Prospective judges have been monitored since they became university students even to actually be a judge they have to undergo training for almost 1 year.

“In Japan the judicial recruitment process is very strict. They have been monitored since college. They must be from the Faculty of Law because it is the basic. Furthermore, the prospective judges also have to attend various training for almost a year. They also consider that being a judge is a clean thing so it is applied also in the process of recruitment that is very transparent and full of conscience, “he said.

Furthermore, the presentation was presented by Prof. Frans. He talked about the culture of America when he was studied there. Frans said that American culture is also remarkable. While telling stories, Frans said that the students there really have a great moral and very critical. When there is a lecturer who does not come to the class, the student is not reluctant to ask the reason of his absence. It is common. However, such things rarely happen in Indonesia.

“When I was there I also learned a lot of new things. One occasion, the lecturer did not teach. The next day when the lecturer was in the student asked the reason why he did not come to the class. The lecturer answered but not offended because it is reasonable. It doesn’t happen like that here. Things like that have not been developed in Indonesia. Ethics are important for everyday life. If someone is working, ethics is based on their respective professions, “he said.

After the exposure of the two speakers, the participants who were present began to discuss. It was opened by the first participant, Dian from Human Rights Study Center UBAYA, asked about the cases in Japan.

In response to Dian’s question, Yuzura asserted that the division of cases in Japan is based on the level of difficulty so it is more focused. In comparison, Indonesia divides it into 4 courts. While in Japan, it is not divided but directly at the top line, the Supreme Court.

Author: Pradita Desyanti

Editor: Nuri Hermawan