The Role and Independence of the DPR RI Ethics Council in Adjudicating Violations of the Members' Code of Ethics from the Perspective of the Principle of Justice

The independence of the Ethics Council of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (BK DPR RI) is a crucial issue in maintaining the integrity, credibility, and accountability of the legislative institution. The BK DPR RI has the authority to examine, prosecute, and impose sanctions on DPR members suspected of violating the Code of Ethics as stipulated in Law Number 17 of 2014 concerning the MPR, DPR, DPD, and DPRD (MD3 Law) in conjunction with Law Number 13 of 2019, and clarified through DPR RI Regulation Number 1 of 2015 concerning the Code of Ethics and DPR RI Regulation Number 2 of 2015 concerning the Procedures of the Council's Ethics Court. However, in practice, the independence of the BK is often questioned due to the potential for political intervention, conflicts of interest between factions, and limited external oversight mechanisms. This study uses a juridical-normative and conceptual approach by examining the provisions of applicable laws and regulations as well as the principles of justice, which include the principles of due process of law, impartiality, and proportionality in imposing sanctions. The study's findings indicate that although the legal framework has normatively positioned the Ethics Council (BK) as the internal adjudicatory organ of the DPR, gaps remain between these norms and implementation, particularly regarding transparency, objectivity, and substantive justice for those audited. Therefore, strengthening BK’s independence is urgently needed through reforms to the member selection mechanism, increased procedural accountability, and public oversight. The implications of this research emphasize that ensuring BK’s independence is not merely a matter of enforcing internal discipline, but also a prerequisite for realizing justice, the rule of law, and public trust in the DPR RI as a democratic institution.