Edition: Yuridicheskaya praktika
Bodies of the justice system actively cooperate
A meeting with the participation of the Chairman of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniaziev, the Acting Chairman of the HCJ Viktor Hryshchuk, members of the Council Oksana Blazhivska, Inna Plakhtii, Vitalii Salikhov, temporary acting Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine Oleksii Salnikov was held by the initiative of the High Council of Justice.
The Chairman of the Supreme Court informed about the discussion on the level of the relevant parliamentary committee of various options of restoration of disciplinary functions that were carried out by the High Council of Justice. The most acceptable, according to members of the Council, is the establishment of a disciplinary chamber consisting of current HCJ members with the possibility of appealing the decisions made to the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. This issue will be discussed additionally during the preparation of legislative changes. HCJ members emphasized that the transfer of disciplinary function to any other body is unacceptable.
Activities of the HCJ Secretariat in figures for the first quarter of 2022
During January-March 2022, the Secretariat of the High Council of Justice considered 453 appeals of citizens, as well as 94 requests for information.
In addition, since the beginning of 2022, the telephone hotline of the HCJ by the number: (044) 481-06-26 has received 475 appeals from citizens.
For the three months of 2022, 230 cover letters were prepared on sending copies of acts of the HCJ and its bodies; 4340 copies of acts of the HCJ, its bodies and members of the HCJ were issued; 1402 pages of documents of the HCJ were edited.
On the official website of the High Council of Justice, 9142 acts of the HCJ were published, more than 100 news were prepared and posted; about 370 messages were published on the HCJ telegram channel and on the HCJ Facebook page.
Online self-help platform “Basecamp: judges and prosecutors for Ukraine” has been launched
At the initiative of the Presidents of three Council of Europe committees: the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) and the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) the self-help platform “Basecamp: judges and prosecutors for Ukraine” has been launched for direct communication between judges.
The platform is a free online exchange tool, accessible also on mobile phones. It aims to facilitate informal communication between Ukrainian judges or prosecutors (located in or outside Ukraine) and judges and prosecutors from the other 45 Council of Europe member states. The language used is English, but translation from and into Ukrainian will be available on request (addressed to the moderator of the platform). Any judge or prosecutor wishing to join this platform is welcome to address by e-mail: basecamp.enrollment@gmail.com to receive a personal invitation link.
In the first quarter of 2022 the HCJ made decisions on dismissal 33 judges
During the first quarter of 2022, the High Council of Justice made decisions on the dismissal of 28 judges from their positions on general grounds, namely, due to the submission of applications for resignation. On special grounds, 5 judges were dismissed – for committing a substantive disciplinary offence.
It should be noted that for the same period of 2021, 41 judges were dismissed.
During January-March 2022, the HCJ received 64 reports on interference in the professional activities of judges in the administration of justice and actions that violate the guarantees of independence of judges or undermine the authority of justice. Taking into account the notifications received in previous periods, since the beginning of 2022, the Council has considered 47 reports.
By results of consideration of 15 reports on interference in the activities of judges in the administration of justice, 14 decisions were made on taking response measures:
- appeals to prosecutor’s office and law enforcement bodies to provide information on disclosure and investigation of crimes;
- submission to the relevant bodies or officials on discovery and bringing to responsibility of persons committed or allowed to act inaction, etc.
Having considered 32 reports of judges, the Council took 8 decisions on approval of 22 opinions of the HCJ members on the absence of grounds for taking measures to ensure the independence of judges and the authority of the justice.