Ad-Dustur considers scholarly discussion after publication an important part of the research record. Published articles remain open to constructive critique, clarification, and further debate. This policy follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) on post-publication discussions and corrections.

Purpose

Post-publication discussion gives readers, researchers, and practitioners a forum to examine the data, methods, analyses, and conclusions of articles published in Ad-Dustur. The aim is to advance scholarly understanding of legal and constitutional issues, not to settle personal disputes.

Who May Participate

Anyone with a relevant academic or professional interest may submit a comment, including researchers, students, practitioners, and policymakers. Commenters must use their real name and affiliation. Anonymous comments will not be considered.

How to Submit a Comment

Comments should be sent by email to [Ad-Dustur editorial email address] with the subject line: Post-Publication Discussion [Article Title or DOI].

Each submission should include:

• the full name, affiliation, and contact details of the commenter;
• the title and DOI of the article under discussion;
• a clear statement of the issue raised, supported by evidence, data, or references;
• a declaration of any competing interests.

Comments should normally be submitted within 12 months of the article's online publication. Comments on older articles may still be considered at the editor's discretion.

Editorial Evaluation

The editorial team evaluates each comment for:

• relevance to the published article;
• scholarly merit and adequacy of supporting evidence;
• clarity and professional, respectful tone;
• compliance with publication ethics.

Where needed, the editor may seek advice from independent experts in the relevant field. Comments that are defamatory, offensive, or not scholarly in nature will be declined.

Author Response

If a comment is accepted for consideration, the corresponding author of the original article will be invited to respond within 30 days. The comment and the response may be reviewed together before a final editorial decision.

Publication of Discussions

Accepted comments may be published in one of the following forms:

• Letters to the Editor: short, focused commentaries that respond to or critique articles previously published in Ad-Dustur, typically 1,000–2,000 words. They give readers an opportunity to engage in scholarly dialogue by offering constructive feedback, clarifying interpretations, or extending discussions within the legal research community.
• Author Responses: replies from the original author(s) to a Letter to the Editor or Commentary concerning their article, typically 500–1,500 words and no longer than the comment they address. Where possible, the response is published alongside the comment it answers, so readers can follow both sides of the discussion together.
• Commentaries: more extended scholarly discussions of issues raised by one or more articles previously published in Ad-Dustur, typically 2,000–3,000 words. They may place the original work in a broader legal or policy context, compare it with related research, or propose new perspectives or directions for future study. Commentaries are evaluated by the editors and may be sent for peer review before acceptance.

All contributions should be written in [English / Indonesian], follow the journal's Author Guidelines for formatting and referencing, and include no more than [15] references for Letters and Author Responses and [30] references for Commentaries.

Publication of a comment does not necessarily mean the original article contains errors, and does not mean the journal endorses every view expressed.

Corrections, Retractions, and Ethical Concerns

If a discussion reveals errors, unreliable findings, or possible misconduct, the matter will be handled according to the Allegation of Research Misconduct and Correction and Retraction policies above. Outcomes may include a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, in line with COPE guidelines.

Record Keeping

The editorial office keeps records of all post-publication correspondence, including comments, author responses, expert opinions, and editorial decisions.

Contact

Questions about this policy may be directed to the journal's contact page.