Indonesia - Judges Spokes Person Training

Indonesia – Judges Spokes Person Training

The first ever Spokes Person Training for Indonesian Judges has been organized through Judicial Sector Support Program (JSSP) managed jointly by CILC and LeIP in collaboration with Studiecentrum Rechtspleging (SSR) and Indonesian Judicial Training Centre (JTC). 39 Spokes Person Judges from courts in Maluku and Papua regions attended the training from 16-20 October 2017.

The training was a result of needs assessment conducted jointly by SSR and JTC in November 2016, it reveals that judge’s spokesperson never received any training prior to their appointment. Whereas, it is important that they would have sufficient skills to communicate well with the public to give a better understanding of the courts.

It is also JTC’s first time to try out blended learning in a training program, by combining e-learning module with in class training. Knowledge materials were put in e learning and participants are expected to take it prior to the in class training. This also allows more time for practical sessions in class and at the same time equipped the participants with initial theory.

Curriculum and training materials were developed through a series of workshop since November 2016 until June 2017. In July 10 – 14, a Training of Trainers were given by SSR for 15 JTC candidate trainers. The trainings were very practical and focuses on 3 main skills required by spokesperson judges: 1) press release; key message; and how to be comfortable in front of camera.

After TOT, the training materials were customized to the Indonesian needs and finally consist of 7 main topics: 1) Principle of Public Relation given through e learning; 2) Communication Public Technique; 3) Type and Functions of Media; 4) Code of Ethics for Judges; 5) Education Technique for Public; 6) Practical Role of Spokesperson in Court; and 7) Crisis Management.

A judge from Waimena General Court, Imelda Indah, who has been newly appointed as spokesperson before she join in the training said “the training is not monotone, not tiring and we are encourage to participate. It also provide guidance on how I should work on my newly appointed spokesperson judge, as I don’t have any experience before”

Also Abdurrahman, a judge from Waimena Islamic Court, who has been 3 years appointed as a spokesperson said “The trainers are using tricks that make the class relax and comfortable, which makes me easy to understand the training materials … the materials itself are very relevant to our work and I am happy to have been in this training, as I have never received any training until now on spokesperson”.

Sarwo Edy, a senior judge trainer from JTC also said “this is very different and lively in the teaching methods we used now. We certainly would duplicate the methods in other trainings in the future”