Kusumah Atmaja

Raden Soelaiman Effendi Koesoemah Atmadja is a National Hero of Indonesia and the first Chairman of its Supreme Court.

Kusumah Atmaja
Kusumah Atmadja
1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia
In office 1950–1952
Preceded by	New Term
Succeeded by	Wirjono Prodjodikoro
Personal details
Born	September 8, 1898 Purwakarta, West Java, Dutch East Indies
Died	August 11, 1952 (aged 53) Jakarta, Indonesia
Alma mater	Leiden University

Early life

Kusumah Atmaja was born on September 8, 1898 to a noble family in Purwakarta Regency, Purwakarta, West Java.

He obtained his diploma from the Recht Hoge School (literally 'High School of Justice') in 1913.

Kusumah Atmadja started his career as a court clerk in 1919 and was seconded to the Court at Buitenzorg. That same year he received a scholarship to continue his legal education at the University of Leiden.

In 1922 he completed his studies. He obtained the title Doctor in de rechtsgeleerheid with a dissertation entitled De Mohamedaansche Vrome Stichtingen in Indië (Institute of Islamic Scholars in the Dutch East Indies), in which he outlined the law of war in the Dutch East Indies.

Judicial career

Upon his return to the Dutch East Indies, Kusumah Atmadja was offered a position as a judge at the Raad Van Justitie (High Court) in Batavia. After a year, Kusumah Atmadja was appointed Landraad Voorzitter (Chairman of the District Court) in Indramayu.

He was listed as a High Court Judge in Padang, landraad voorzitter in Semarang, and then a judge in Raad van Justitie in the same city.

When the Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies, evicting the Dutch, Kusumah Atmadja continued as a court official. In 1942, he served as Chairman of Chihoo Hooin (District Court) in Semarang. In addition, he was also appointed as Chief Justice for Central Java in 1944.

Member of BPUPK

Atmaja became a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK), on April 29, 1945. The body was an effort to gain the support of the Indonesian people using the promise of Japanese help for Indonesian independence.

Indonesian Independence Era

Signature of Kusumah Atmaja on the Treaty ending Dutch rule over Indonesia

After Indonesia declared its independence on August 17, 1945, Atmaja was assigned to establish the country's Supreme Court in 1950. He served as its chairman from 1950 until his death in 1952.

He was asked by the Dutch State to lead the formation of the Dutch puppet state of Pasundan in 1947, but refused.

Death

Prof. Dr. Raden Soelaiman Koesoemah Atmadja Effendi died on August 11, 1952 in Jakarta and was buried in Karet Bivak Cemetery.

Recognition

Atmadja was awarded the title of National Hero of Indonesia by Presidential Decree No. 124/1965.