Journal Policy

The Indonesian Court and Justice Review (ICJR) is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the study of courts, judicial institutions, justice systems, legal institutions, and adjudicative practices in Indonesia and comparative jurisdictions.

ICJR is committed to maintaining rigorous editorial standards, academic integrity, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal's policies are designed to ensure the quality, independence, fairness, and integrity of the publication process.

The journal's editorial and publication practices are informed by internationally recognized standards, including the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) concerning transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing. These principles emphasize transparency concerning journal content, peer review, publication ethics, editorial governance, publication frequency, access, copyright, licensing, and other aspects of journal management.

1. Types of Articles Published

ICJR considers the following types of scholarly contributions for publication.

1.1 Research Articles

Research Articles constitute the principal publication type of ICJR.

Research Articles must present original and substantive research that contributes to scholarship on courts, judicial institutions, justice systems, legal institutions, or related interdisciplinary fields.

Research Articles may employ doctrinal, normative, comparative, empirical, socio-legal, qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, or other appropriate research methodologies.

A Research Article should normally contain:

a clearly defined research problem or question;
an appropriate theoretical or conceptual framework;
a clearly explained research methodology;
substantial engagement with relevant scholarly literature;
rigorous analysis of legal, judicial, empirical, or other relevant materials;
original findings, arguments, or interpretations; and
conclusions that demonstrate the contribution of the research to existing scholarship.

Research Articles are subject to the journal's standard double-blind peer review process.

1.2 Review Articles

Review Articles provide critical and analytical examinations of existing scholarship concerning a significant topic within the journal's scope.

A Review Article should do more than summarize previous literature. It should identify major debates, developments, methodological tendencies, unresolved questions, theoretical gaps, or emerging directions in the relevant field.

Systematic, critical, comparative, or theoretically informed reviews are particularly encouraged where appropriate.

Review Articles are subject to editorial assessment and peer review.

1.3 Case and Judicial Decision Analysis

ICJR welcomes Case and Judicial Decision Analysis that provides rigorous scholarly analysis of significant judicial decisions, constitutional judgments, Supreme Court decisions, religious court decisions, administrative court decisions, or other judicial decisions relevant to the journal's scope.

Such contributions should not merely describe or summarize a judgment. They should critically examine issues such as:

judicial reasoning;
statutory or constitutional interpretation;
legal doctrine;
precedent;
judicial methodology;
human rights implications;
institutional implications;
consistency with previous decisions;
comparative judicial developments; and
broader implications for law, justice, and society.

Case and Judicial Decision Analysis should demonstrate a clear scholarly contribution and engage with relevant literature and legal authorities.

Where appropriate, such contributions may be classified as Research Articles if they contain substantial original research and analysis.

1.4 Legal and Judicial Commentary

ICJR may consider Legal and Judicial Commentaries addressing significant developments in law, judicial institutions, court practices, constitutional developments, or justice policy.

Commentaries should provide a substantive and well-supported scholarly argument rather than merely presenting personal opinion or general commentary.

Commentaries may be considered for publication at the discretion of the Editorial Board and may be subject to editorial review or external peer review depending on their nature.

The review process applied to a Commentary will be transparently indicated where it differs from the journal's standard Research Article process.

1.5 Book Reviews

ICJR may publish Book Reviews of recently published academic books that make a significant contribution to legal studies, judicial studies, socio-legal research, comparative law, or related fields.

Book Reviews should critically assess the book's:

principal argument;
theoretical or conceptual contribution;
methodology where relevant;
strengths and limitations;
contribution to existing scholarship; and
relevance to contemporary debates in law and justice.

Book Reviews are normally subject to editorial review rather than the full external peer review process applied to Research Articles.

1.6 Editorials

The journal may publish Editorials written or commissioned by the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board concerning matters of particular scholarly or institutional relevance to the journal.

Editorials are clearly identified as editorial material and are not treated as Research Articles.

Editorials do not ordinarily undergo external peer review.

1.7 Special Issue Contributions

ICJR may publish Special Issues addressing specific themes, emerging areas of research, major developments in judicial studies, or topics of particular scholarly significance.

Articles included in Special Issues are subject to the same academic, ethical, and peer review standards applicable to regular issues unless an alternative procedure is explicitly stated.

Any deviation from the journal's standard peer review procedure will be clearly disclosed.

The publication of Special Issues does not alter the journal's commitment to editorial independence, academic quality, or publication ethics.

2. Manuscripts Not Normally Considered

ICJR does not normally consider:

manuscripts outside the journal's focus and scope;
manuscripts previously published in substantially similar form;
manuscripts simultaneously submitted to another journal;
purely descriptive legal materials without sufficient scholarly analysis;
opinion pieces lacking substantial academic argumentation;
promotional or commercial material;
manuscripts containing plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct;
manuscripts containing fabricated or falsified evidence;
manuscripts that substantially duplicate previously published work; or
manuscripts that do not meet the journal's basic academic and ethical requirements.

The Editor-in-Chief may reject a manuscript without external peer review where it clearly fails to meet the journal's scope, academic standards, ethical requirements, or submission criteria.

3. Peer Review Policy

Research Articles, Review Articles, and substantive Case and Judicial Decision Analyses are normally evaluated through the journal's double-blind peer review process.

The journal normally seeks evaluations from at least two independent reviewers with appropriate expertise.

The peer review process assesses, among other matters:

originality;
relevance;
theoretical contribution;
methodological rigor;
quality of analysis;
use of scholarly sources;
clarity of argumentation;
significance of findings; and
compliance with research and publication ethics.

The final publication decision rests with the Editor or Editorial Board.

The journal does not guarantee acceptance, and peer review does not constitute a guarantee of publication. This approach is consistent with international transparency principles requiring journals to clearly describe their peer review procedures and any exceptions to those procedures.

4. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently on the basis of academic merit.

The journal does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, political views, institutional affiliation, or personal characteristics.

Editors must disclose and appropriately manage conflicts of interest. Manuscripts submitted by editors or Editorial Board members shall be handled independently to prevent conflicts from influencing editorial decisions.

5. Publication Ethics

All manuscripts must comply with the journal's Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement.

The journal does not tolerate:

plagiarism;
fabrication;
falsification;
duplicate publication;
redundant publication;
inappropriate authorship;
citation manipulation;
peer review manipulation;
undisclosed conflicts of interest; or
other forms of academic or publication misconduct.

Suspected misconduct will be handled in accordance with applicable publication-ethics principles and the journal's established procedures.

6. Anti-Plagiarism Policy

All submitted manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism and inappropriate textual similarity.

Similarity reports are evaluated contextually by the Editorial Board. The journal does not use a single similarity percentage as an automatic determination of plagiarism.

Authors remain responsible for appropriate citation, attribution, originality, and the integrity of their manuscripts.

The journal may reject manuscripts containing substantial plagiarism or take appropriate corrective action if plagiarism is discovered after publication.

7. Authorship and Contribution

All listed authors must have made a substantive intellectual contribution to the manuscript.

Authors are expected to agree on authorship before submission and approve the final version of the manuscript.

Changes to authorship after submission require appropriate justification and approval from all affected authors and the Editor.

The journal does not permit honorary, gift, or ghost authorship.

8. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence the research, review, or editorial decision.

Particular attention shall be given to conflicts involving judicial proceedings, litigation, government institutions, law firms, political institutions, research funding, consultancy relationships, or other professional relationships relevant to the manuscript.

9. Research Ethics

Authors conducting empirical or socio-legal research involving human participants, interviews, surveys, personal data, or confidential information must comply with applicable ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.

Authors are responsible for protecting participant privacy and confidentiality and obtaining informed consent where required.

Where applicable, information concerning ethical approval should be included in the manuscript.

10. Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI

ICJR recognizes the legitimate use of artificial intelligence and generative AI tools in scholarly communication but requires responsible and transparent use.

AI tools may assist with language editing, grammar, translation, formatting, or other limited editorial functions.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, citations, legal authorities, arguments, and conclusions contained in their manuscripts.

AI-generated legal citations, case references, quotations, statutes, and other legal authorities must be independently verified by the authors.

The use of AI to fabricate evidence, sources, quotations, judicial decisions, research findings, or references is prohibited.

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts or unpublished materials to AI systems where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

11. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Issues

ICJR is committed to maintaining the integrity of the published scholarly record.

Where significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, the journal may publish:

corrections;
errata;
expressions of concern; or
retractions.

Post-publication notices will be clearly identified and linked to the relevant article.

Readers and researchers may notify the Editorial Board of substantial errors or ethical concerns relating to published articles.

12. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions where they believe that a significant factual, procedural, or ethical error has affected the decision.

Appeals must provide substantive grounds and should clearly identify the issue requiring reconsideration.

Complaints concerning editorial procedures, peer review, publication ethics, or journal management may be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief.

Complaints involving the Editor-in-Chief shall be handled by an appropriate independent member of the Editorial Board or the Publisher.

13. Publication Frequency

ICJR is published four times per year on a quarterly basis:

February – Issue 1;
May – Issue 2;
August – Issue 3; and
November – Issue 4.

The journal may also publish Special Issues in addition to its regular publication schedule.

The journal is committed to maintaining its stated publication schedule and will transparently communicate any exceptional circumstances that substantially affect publication timelines. The publication frequency should be clearly stated and consistently maintained as part of journal transparency and best practice.

14. Open Access and Accessibility

ICJR is committed to making its published scholarly content accessible to its intended readership in accordance with the journal's Open Access Policy.

The journal shall clearly state on its website the conditions under which published articles can be accessed, reused, distributed, and archived.

15. Copyright and Licensing

Copyright and licensing conditions applicable to published articles shall be clearly stated on the journal's website and within the published article.

The journal shall provide transparent information regarding:

copyright ownership;
author rights;
licensing terms;
permitted reuse;
repository deposition; and
distribution of published content.

Where an open license is used, the specific license shall be clearly identified.

Clear copyright and licensing information is an important component of international publishing transparency standards.

16. Digital Archiving and Preservation

ICJR is committed to ensuring the long-term accessibility and preservation of its published scholarly content.

The journal shall maintain an appropriate electronic archiving and digital preservation mechanism to ensure continued access to published articles in the event of disruption to journal or publisher operations.

Information concerning the journal's specific digital preservation service will be made publicly available on the journal website.

17. Data Availability and Research Materials

Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to provide sufficient information concerning research data, sources, methods, and supporting materials to enable readers to understand and assess the research.

For research involving sensitive legal documents, confidential information, personal data, court records subject to restrictions, or other protected materials, data availability shall be subject to applicable legal, ethical, confidentiality, and institutional requirements.

18. Publication Charges

Any article processing charges, submission fees, publication fees, or other author charges shall be clearly disclosed on the journal's website before submission.

Where the journal does not charge authors for submission or publication, this shall be explicitly stated.

Editorial decisions shall not be influenced by an author's ability or willingness to pay publication-related charges.

19. Advertisement and Commercial Influence

Any advertising or commercial activity associated with ICJR shall be clearly separated from editorial content and shall not influence editorial decisions.

Commercial sponsorship, where applicable, shall not determine the selection, review, acceptance, or publication of individual manuscripts.

20. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ICJR is committed to promoting an inclusive and non-discriminatory scholarly environment.

Editorial and peer review decisions shall be based on academic merit and shall not be influenced by nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, political beliefs, institutional affiliation, or other irrelevant characteristics.

The journal encourages contributions representing diverse scholarly perspectives and jurisdictions, particularly research that broadens understanding of courts and justice in Indonesia and comparative contexts.

21. Policy Review

The Editorial Board periodically reviews the journal's policies to ensure that they remain consistent with developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, publication ethics, and international best practices.

Any substantial changes to journal policies will be communicated transparently through the journal's official website.

Article Types at a Glance

Article Type	Main Purpose	Peer Review
Research Article	Original doctrinal, empirical, comparative, socio-legal, or interdisciplinary research	Double-blind peer review
Review Article	Critical and analytical synthesis of existing scholarship	Double-blind peer review
Case and Judicial Decision Analysis	Critical analysis of significant court decisions and judicial reasoning	Double-blind peer review
Legal and Judicial Commentary	Scholarly commentary on significant legal or judicial developments	Editorial review / peer review where appropriate
Book Review	Critical assessment of significant scholarly books	Editorial review
Editorial	Editorial perspective on significant scholarly or institutional issues	Editorial review
Special Issue Article	Research addressing a defined special theme	Same standard as regular research articles

ICJR may revise or add article categories where academically justified, provided that the applicable review procedure and editorial standards are clearly disclosed.