HCJ invites Ukrainian judges to take part in a survey on their independence in 2025
The HCJ has been an observer of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary since 2023. At the initiative of the ENCJ, the survey of judges regarding their independence will run from January 7 to March 12, 2025 inclusive. The survey will be conducted online; it does not require registration and is anonymous. No personal data will be collected.
The results of the survey will be published on the official website of the ENCJ and will be used to assess the real state of judicial independence in Ukraine and to find effective mechanisms for guaranteeing and protecting it.
Professional Standards for “Judge” and “Prosecutor” added to the Register of Qualifications
The National Qualifications Agency included the professional standards for “Judge” and “Prosecutor” in the Register of Qualifications.
The HCJ member Inna Plakhtii explained the importance of professional standards: “Developing standards for the legal profession is significant for several reasons:
- standards define qualification requirements for the legal professionals, ensuring high professionalism and competence in administering justice;
- requirements for ethics and compliance with the rule of law reduce the risk of abuse and improper performance of duties;
- standards promote unity of approaches, making the work of lawyers transparent and predictable;
- clear requirements encourage high-quality performance of duties;
- standards serve as a basis for educational programs and advanced training;
- standards include requirements for ethical behavior;
- compliance with global requirements increases competitiveness.
Overall, the development and implementation of legal profession standards are essential for the development of the legal system, ensuring the rule of law and protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens.”
Six judges were resigned
On January 9, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss Merezhko Maryna Vasylivna from the office of judge of the Kyiv Court of Appeal due to submission of application for resignation.
On January 14, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss due to submission of application for resignation:
- Melnychuk Oleksandr Volodymyrovych – from the office of judge of the Pervomaiskyi local-district court of Mykolaiv region;
- Samsin Markiian Leonovych – from the office of judge of the Kamianka-Buzkyi district court of Lviv region.
On January 16, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss three judges due to applications for resignation:
- Shakhova Vladlena Volodymyrivna – from the office of judge of the Zmiivskyi district court of Kharkiv region;
- Nemyrovska Olena Vilenivna – from the office of judge of the Kyiv Court of Appeal;
- Troianovska Halyna Serhiivna – from the office of judge of the Zhytomyr Court of Appeal.
On January 13, 2025, the First Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ decided to bring the judge to disciplinary liability and impose a disciplinary sanction in the form of submission for dismissal from office.
Secretariat of the HCJ submitted to the CJU and the Ethics Council the opinions on results of the special check of candidates for the position of the HCJ member
On January 13, 2025, the HCJ Secretariat completed the forwarding the Council of Judges of Ukraine and to the Ethics Council of the opinions on results of the special check of candidates to be elected by the XX Congress of Judges of Ukraine to the position of the HCJ member, as well as opinions on the compliance of candidates for the position of the HCJ member and their documents with the requirements established by the Law of Ukraine “On the High Council of Justice”.
HCJ will make submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of 9 judges to local courts
On January 14, 2025, the HCJ decided to make submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of four judges to positions in local courts. The list is – at the link.
On January 16, 2025, the HCJ took decision on making submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of five judges to positions in local courts. The list is – at the link.
Term for accepting documents of candidates for the position of the Deputy Head of the Court Security Service has been extended
The HCJ has extended the term for accepting documents of candidates for the position of the Deputy Head of the Court Security Service (for service organization) until February 25, 2025.
The complete requirements for filling the vacant position of the Deputy Head of the Court Security Service (for service organization) were approved by the HCJ decision № 3628/0/15-24 dated December 12, 2024.
The competition for this position will be conducted on March 17, 2025.
Two judges were temporarily suspended from administration of justice based on the decision of the Third Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ
Judge of the Zvenyhorodskyi district court of Cherkassy region Sakun Dariia Ihorivna and judge of the Economic court of Dnipropetrovsk region of Dnipropetrovsk region Bondariev Eduard Mykolaiovych were temporarily suspended from administration of justice based on the third Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ.
On January 15, 2025, the Third Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ decided to bring judges to disciplinary liability and impose disciplinary sanction in the form of submission for dismissal from office.
285 judges were dismissed in 2024
The HCJ took decision on dismissal of 248 judges on general grounds, namely:
- 238 judges were dismissed due to submission of applications for resignation, of which:
- 10 judges of local courts due to submission of application at own volition.
The HCJ dismissed 37 judges under special grounds, namely:
- for committing a significant disciplinary misdemeanour – 31;
- under subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of Section XV “Transitional Provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine according to the submissions with recommendation of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine – 6.
During 2024, the HCJ took decision on making submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of 471 judges to positions in local court, of which:
- to general local courts – 412 judges;
- to local administrative courts – 31 judges;
- to local economic courts – 28 judges.
During 2024, the HCJ considered 238 reports on interference with the activity of judges in the administration of justice
In 2024, the HCJ received 224 reports on interference with the professional activities of judges in the administration of justice, on actions that violate the guarantees of judicial independence or undermine the authority of justice. Taking into account the reports received in previous periods, during 2024 the HCJ considered 238 reports of judges.
By results of consideration of 90 reports on interference with the activities of judges in the administration of justice, 87 decisions were made to take response measures.
Having considered 148 reports of judges, the HCJ took 45 decisions to approve 130 opinions of the HCJ members on the absence of grounds for taking measures to ensure the independence of judges and the authority of justice.
The HCJ adopted 5 decisions on its own initiative within its powers on taking measures to ensure the independence of judges and the authority of justice.
145 judges were brought to disciplinary liability during 2024
During 2024, based on the results of consideration of disciplinary cases by the Disciplinary Chambers, the HCJ adopted 134 decisions to bring 145 judges to disciplinary liability and impose the following types of disciplinary sanctions upon them:
- warning – upon 64 judges;
- reprimand with deprivation of the right to receive supplemental payments to the basic wage of a judge for one month – upon 19 judges;
- severe reprimand with deprivation of the right to receive supplemental payments to the basic wage of a judge for three months – upon 11 judges;
- initiation of temporary suspension from administration of justice – upon 3 judges;
- initiation of the judge’s removal from office – upon 48 judges.
During 2024, the HCJ took 4 decisions of giving consent to take a judge into custody
During 2024, the HCJ received 5 petitions on giving consent to take a judge into custody, following the results of consideration of those the Council adopted 4 decisions on giving consent to take a judge into custody and 1 decision on returning the petition on giving consent to take a judge into custody due to non-compliance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On the High Council of Justice”.
By results of consideration of petitions of the Prosecutor General`s Office during 2024 the HCJ took:
- 16 decisions to satisfy petitions of the Prosecutor General`s Office on temporary suspension of a judge from the administration of justice due to the criminal proceedings in regard of him/her;
- 8 decisions on extension of the term of temporary suspension of a judge from the administration of justice due to the criminal proceedings in regard of him/her;
- 1 decision to return without consideration a petition on extension of the term of temporary suspension of a judge from the administration of justice.