He holds a master's degree in political science and a doctorate in constitutional law (1993) from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

[6] The end of Mahfud's time as chief justice was subsequently followed by intention to run for the presidential seat in 2014,[7] which was eventually won by former Jakarta governor, Joko Widodo.

[8] After graduating, he worked as a lecturer in a number of universities, including his alma mater UII, IAIN Sunan Kalijaga, and STIE Widya Wiwaha, Yogyakarta, and became a civil servant.

[10] Following a cabinet reshuffle on 20 July 2001, Mahfud moved from the defense portfolio and was appointed Minister of Law and Human Rights.

He held office briefly until Wahid's impeachment by the People's Consultative Assembly a few days later and the Mutual Assistance Cabinet's formation.

[11] In 2004, Mahfud ran as a candidate for a seat in the People's Representative Council (DPR), as a member of the National Awakening Party.

In November 2012 he stood for, and was elected to, the position of chair of the Islamic Students Alumni Association (KAHMI), an influential Muslim organisation.

His decision to successfully seek election as the chair of KAHMI, and being selected ahead of other well-known politicians such as Anas Urbaningrum, was seen as boosting his credibility as a potential presidential candidate.

[15] More recently, in September 2012 he was critical of a proposal from the National Counterterrorist Agency to certify Islamic clerics and scholars as a way of minimising the risk of radicalism.

[16] During the 2023 Anti Rohingya Protest, he relocated 137 refugees to Indonesian Red Cross Society and Aceh Foundation Building, with the help from Jusuf Kalla.

[17] On 3 October 2022, Mahmud appointed by Joko Widodo to led TGIPF (Tim Gabungan Independen Pencari Fakta; Joint Independent Fact Finding Team).

[18] He was teamed with Zainudin Amali of Minister of Youth and Sport, Nur Rochmad, Rhenald Kasali of University of Indonesia academics, Sumaryanto of Yogyakarta State University rector, Akmal Marhali of Save Our Soccer coordinator, Anton Sanjoy of Kompas journalist, Nugroho Setiawan of AFC security officer, Doni Monardo of former BNPB chief, Suwarno of vice-chairman of KONI, Sri Handayani of former deputy regional police chief of West Borneo, Laode M. Syarif of former vice chief of KPK, and Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto of former Indonesian footballer.

Commenting on their partnership, Ganjar described Mahfud as a qualified intellectual, a courageous, and honest individual who consistently advocates for the rights of the people.

[23] Mahfud acknowledged that, before joining Ganjar in the 2024 presidential campaign, he had been offered the position of running mate for Anies Baswedan by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

[24] Ganjar and Mahfud came in third place with 16% of the vote, being defeated by Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

[25] Though they initially disputed the election, after the Constitutional Court of Indonesia rejected their lawsuit both candidates accepted the results and congratulated Prabowo and Gibran.

[26] Previously, the vice presidential candidate number 3 had firmly and openly stated his plan to resign when asked by a resident in Semarang during the 'Tabrak Prof!'

[27] In his role as Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud has called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would curb the spread of LGBT activities.

[28] He has accused the Indonesian LGBT community of being a front for international organizations; however, he failed to tender evidence in favour of his allegations.

[33] On 12 May 2022, in response to public controversy related to Deddy Corbuzier hosting a gay couple on his talk show, Mahfud reiterated that because there was currently no law criminalizing homosexual sex (other than those that fell under pre-existing grounds of sexual offences, such as statutory rape), the KUHP (Criminal Code) should be swiftly amended by Parliament to outlaw non-heterosexual intimate relations.

[38] Mahfud is married to Zaizatun Nihayati, a lawyer and teacher, who studied at the Faculty of Law, of the Islamic University of Indonesia, Yogyakarta.