The Impact of Documentary Film on Public Trust in Judges' Decisions: Understanding Public Perception of Justice For Jessica Wongso

The release of the Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee, and Jessica Wongso documentary has reignited public interest in the case, leading to a shift in perspectives, contradicting what has been proven and ruled in court. This study aims to examine the judges' considerations and analysis that formed the basis of the verdict, the legal impact of the documentary, and public perceptions of justice for Jessica Wongso. This research employs a socio-legal approach with interdisciplinary insights from communication studies, sociology, and psychology. Data collection methods include observation, interviews, document analysis, and surveys. A questionnaire was distributed to 50 respondents who met the criteria of having watched the entire documentary and being familiar with the court’s ruling. In this case, the panel of judges based their decision on an evaluation of the evidence, legal elements, aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as logical reasoning and moral considerations. The findings also indicate that the documentary has influenced public trust in the case and the judicial decision, resulting in significant impacts, shifts, and differing perceptions.