The HCJ extended the term of secondment of judges to two courts
On January 30, 2023 the HCJ decided to extend for one year the term of secondment of:
- judge of the Slovianskyi local-district court of Donetsk region Pronin Serhii Heorhiiovych to the Avdiivskyi local court of Donetsk region (thus, the administration of justice will not be suspended in the Avdiivskyi local court of Donetsk region);
- judge of the Kramatorskyi local court of Donetsk region Mytrofanova Alesia Oleksiivna to the Solomianskyi district court of Kyiv (in order to regulate the workload and ensure proper conditions for access to justice in the Solomianskyi district court of Kyiv).
The first extensive interview of the newly elected Chairman of the HCJ, Hryhorii Usyk, was about:
- values, priorities, principles of work in the position;
- priority tasks of the renewed Council;
- features of the selection of members of the HQCJU;
- prospects for the introduction of the disciplinary inspectors service;
The interview of Hryhorii Usyk is available at the link: https://bit.ly/3RsuNF9
The High Council of Justice decided to postpone for a month the resumption of the territorial jurisdiction of court cases of the Kherson Court of Appeal, the Bilozerskyi, Velykooleksandrivskyi, Novovorontsovskyi district courts of Kherson region. According to the order of the President of the Supreme Court of January 10, 2023, the territorial jurisdiction of court cases in these courts was to be renewed from February 1, 2023.
The decision was due to the fact that the courts are located within the reach of long-range artillery of the rf troops, the premises suffered significant destruction and damage, equipment and furniture during the temporary occupation of Kherson region and hostilities were stolen or damaged.
Therefore, the HCJ, taking into account security threats and impossibility of resuming the territorial jurisdiction of court cases in these courts from February 1, 2023, decided to establish the beginning of the restoration and change of territorial jurisdiction of court cases of these courts from March 1, 2023.
The resignation of four judges was terminated in connection with the entry into force of convictions
The HCJ decided to terminate the resignation of four judges in connection with the entry into force of convictions against each of them.
Judgments gained legal force regarding:
- Ivan Pidhornyi, judge of the Kivertsivskyi district court of Volyn region;
- Oleksii Buran, judge of the Malynovskyi district court of Odesa region;
- Olena Horbatenko, judge of Sievierodonetskyi local court of Luhansk region;
- Oleh Vasyliuk, judge of the Kovelskyi local-district court of Volyn region.
Termination of the resignation of a judge is the basis for termination of the monthly life allowance payment, which was accrued in connection with the resignation.
The HCJ published Information and Analytical Report on Activities in 2022
The report provides detailed statistical information on the activities of the High Council of Justice in 2022.
In 2022, even in the absence of the plenipotentiary composition of the HCJ and full-scale military aggression of the rf against Ukraine, the High Council of Justice took all possible measures in order to ensure continuity of the judiciary functioning, as well as quick resolving of pressing issues to ensure access to justice.
Information and Analytical Report on the activities of the High Council of Justice in 2022 is available at the link: https://bit.ly/3HVJJs6
In 2022, the HCJ received 128 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.
The largest number of reports came from courts located in Kyiv and Kyiv region (32 reports) and Dnipropetrovsk region (25 reports). The fewest such reports came from judges of Vinnytsia, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kherson, and Chernivtsi regions (2 reports each); Sumy, Chernihiv regions (1 message each). No reports were received by the HCJ from judges of Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
This was emphasized by the HCJ member Oleksandr Sasevych, commenting on the submission of the revised draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On approval of the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025” by the NACP to the government.
Based on the results of intensive consultations and meetings, the draft State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025 took into account the position of the HCJ
“The HCJ has a common aspirations and goal with the NACP – to eliminate corruption risks in the judiciary, the assertion of the authority of the judiciary and the fulfilment of Ukraine's international obligations. During the coordination of the draft State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025, the members of the Council were guided by the need to strike a balance between the introduction of anti-corruption mechanisms and the provision of real guarantees for the independence of the judiciary and judges,” Oleksandr Sasevych emphasized.