Society should realize that independence of the judiciary is a guarantee to ensure the rights and protect the interests of citizens in court
The HCJ together with the EU Project “Pravo-Justice” organized the round table discussion on the measures to ensure judicial independence, as well as the presentation of a survey on the assessment of judicial independence.
The survey is being conducted by the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary together with the HCJ.
More details – at the link.
Eight judges were resigned
On February 13, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss five judges due to submission of application for resignation, namely:
- Lymanska Maryna Volodymyrivna – from the office of judge of the Horodnianskyi district court of Chernihiv region;
- Vinohradova Nataliia Viktorivna – from the office of judge of the Suvorovskyi district court of Odesa;
- Donets Volodymyr Adolfovych – from the office of judge of the Circuit administrative court of Kyiv (seconded to the Kyiv circuit administrative court);
- Shapoval Zoia Oleksiivna – from the office of judge of the Shchorskyi district court of Chernihiv region;
- Kononenko Zoia Oleksiivna – from the office of judge of the Second administrative court of appeal.
On February 20, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss three judges due to submission of application for resignation, namely:
- Mashtak Kyrylo Serhiiovych – from the office of judge of the Samarskyi district court of the city of Dnipropetrovsk;
- Ahrykova Oleksandra Volodymyrivna – from the office of judge of the Northern economic court of appeal;
- Tsarapora Oleksandr Petrovych – from the office of judge of the Nemyrovskyi district court of Vinnytsia region.
HCJ makes every effort to ensure that the judicial system is staffed by honest judges
This was emphasized by the HCJ member Oksana Kvasha during the “Fair Courts: Are We Doing Enough?” conference, which was held at the initiative of the DEJURE Foundation.
Oksana Kvasha took part in the discussion on the problems of bringing judges to disciplinary liability. She noted that following the consideration of disciplinary complaints from November 1, 2023, to February 1, 2025, 158 judges were brought to disciplinary liability, of which, in regard of 53 judges the HCJ Disciplinary Chambers took decisions to impose disciplinary sanction in the form of a motion to dismiss a judge for committing significant disciplinary offense.
Oksana Kvasha stressed that the HCJ takes measures to cleanse the judicial system of dishonest judges. “At the same time, we cannot allow the loss of those judges who, during the war, especially in frontline courts, work on their conscience and, risking their lives, continue to fulfill their duty to restore justice and protect the violated rights of citizens,” Oksana Kvasha said.
Announcement on the launch of the competition for vacant position of a member of the HQCJU has been published in the “Holos Ukrainy”
The newspaper “Holos Ukrainy” No. 29 (281) dated February 12, 2025 published announcement on the launch of the competition for vacant position of a member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
All documents of the Selection Commission can be found on the HCJ website at the link.
Documents of persons intending to participate in the competition are accepted from February 10, 2025 to March 3, 2025, inclusive.
Activity of the HCJ Secretariat in figures for January 2025
483 appeals from citizens and 69 requests for information were processed by employees of the Secretariat of the High Council of Justice during January 2025.
For the period, 227 appeals from citizens were received to the HCJ hotline at the telephone number: (044) 481-06-26. The HCJ Secretariat also prepared 540 cover letters on sending copies of the acts of the HCJ and its bodies, issued 727 copies of the acts of the HCJ, its bodies and members of the HCJ, and edited 1792 pages of draft documents of the HCJ.
HCJ will make submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of four judges to local courts
On February 18, 2025, the HCJ decided to make submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of three judges to local courts, in particular:
- Kashchuk Denys Anatoliiovych – to the position of judge of the Sofiivskyi district court of Dnipropetrovsk region;
- Valivun Yuliia Volodymyrivna – to the position of judge of the Stryiskyi local-district court of Lviv region;
- Muzyka Oleksandr Mykolaiovych – to the position of judge of the Zhovtnevyi district court of the city of Mariupol of Donetsk region.
On February 20, 2025, the HCJ took decision to make submission to the President of Ukraine on appointment of Medvediev Kostiantyn Viktorovych to the position of judge of the Vasylkivskyi local-district court of Kyiv region.
HCJ dismissed two judges found unsuitable for the positions held based on the results of qualification evaluation
On February 18, 2025, at its meeting, the HCJ took decision to dismiss under subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of Section XV “Transitional Provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine:
- Halahan Oleksii Valeriiovych from the office of judge of the Kirovskyi district court of Kirovohrad;
- Sheiko Tetiana Ivanivna from the office of judge of the Circuit administrative court of Kyiv.
Within three years we should have an optimized judicial system that meets the needs of society and takes into account the interests of judges, - Dmytro Lukianov
On February 13-14, 2025, a roundtable discussion “Justice Sector Reform in relation to Ukraine`s EU Accession” was organized by the project of the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC, Netherlands).
The event was attended by the HCJ members Dmytro Lukianov, Oleksandr Sasevych, and the Head of the HCJ Secretariat Mykhailo Shumylo.
The roundtable participants discussed the European Commission's reports on the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU acquis for each negotiation cluster, in which the European Commission noted Ukraine's progress and high level of preparation in implementing reforms, but pointed out the need to continue efforts to achieve full compliance with the criteria for EU membership.
More details – at the link.
Hryhorii Usyk elected the Chairman of the High Council of Justice
Relevant decision was adopted by the High Council of Justice on February 20, 2025 by 14 votes.
Usyk Hryhorii Ivanovych – judge of the Civil Cassation Court within the Supreme Court, was elected a member of the HCJ by the 19th Extraordinary Congress of Judges of Ukraine on January 11, 2023.
Hryhorii Usyk held the position of the Chairman of the HCJ in accordance with the law for two years – from January 23, 2023.