A meeting of the working group to prepare commentary on the Code of Judicial Ethics was held
The 7th Administrative Court of Appeal hosted a meeting of the working group of the Council of Judges of Ukraine to prepare commentary on the Code of Judicial Ethics. The HCJ members Serhii Burlakov, Dmytro Lukianov, and Oleksandr Sasevych participated in the group's work.
The commentary is scheduled to be completed by the next meeting of the Congress of Judges of Ukraine.
During January–April 2025, 97 judges were dismissed
71 judges were dismissed on general grounds, namely:
- 69 judges were dismissed due to applications for resignation;
- 2 judges of a local court were dismissed due to resignation at their own request.
Under special circumstances, the High Council of Justice dismissed 26 judges, namely:
- for committing a significant disciplinary offense – 18;
- on the basis of subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of Section XV “Transitional Provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine in accordance with the submissions with the recommendation of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine – 8.
The HCJ received 97 reports of interference in the professional activities of judges in the administration of justice and actions that violate guarantees of judicial independence or undermine the authority of justice between January – April 2025. Taking into account reports received in previous periods the Council has considered 69 reports of judges since the beginning of this year.
Based on the results of reviewing 36 reports of interference with the administration of justice, 32 decisions were made to take response measures.
Having considered 33 reports of judges, the Council adopted 17 decisions approving 29 conclusions 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 1 decision on its own initiative within its powers to take measures to ensure the independence of judges and the authority of justice.
The High Council of Justice held a working meeting with international partners on the activities of the working group for the selection of a candidate for the vacant position of the Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine. The HCJ Chairman, Hryhorii Usyk, informed that in accordance with the Rule of Law Roadmap on Ukraine's path to EU accession, the HCJ should complete the selection procedure for the said position in the fourth quarter of this year.
The announcement of the selection procedure for the temporary position of the Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine was published on January 18, 2024. Since then, the acceptance of documents has been extended. Currently, 13 candidates have been admitted to participate in the selection, two of whom have already withdrawn their candidacies. Thus, 11 persons continue to participate in the selection procedure. The submitted documents are at the stage of initial processing.
Hryhorii Usyk also reported that the working group additionally prepared a draft methodology for assessing candidates’ compliance with the criteria of integrity and professionalism, and defined compliance indicators, rules and methods for establishing them.
HCJ resigned five judges
On May 20, 2025, the HCJ took decision on dismissal of three judges due to filling applications for resignation, namely:
- Velychko mOlena Volodymyrivna – from the office of a judge of the Pokrovskyi local-district court of Donetsk region;
- Puzanova Liudmyla Vasylivna – from the office of a judge of the Kherson court of appeal;
- Kotenko Olha Anatoliivna – from the office of a judge of the Kovpakivskyi district court of Sumy.
On May 22, 2025, the HCJ decided to dismiss due to filling applications for resignation:
- Kalinchenko Nataliia Vadymivna – from the office of a judge of the Economic court of Kharkiv region;
- Turetska Iryna Oleksandrivna – from the office of a judge of the Fifth administrative court of appeal.
On May 20, 2025, the HCJ changed the decision of the Third Disciplinary Chamber of the HCJ dated November 6, 2024 on bringing to disciplinary liability judge of the Shevchenkivskyi district court of Poltava Iryna Blazhko and decided to temporarily, for a period of three months, suspend judge of the Shevchenkivskyi district court of Poltava from the administration of justice, with deprivation of the right to receive supplemental payments to the basic wage of a judge and compulsory assignment of the judge to the National School of Judges of Ukraine for advance qualification course on judicial ethics and integrity, and further qualification assessment to confirm the judge's ability to administer justice in the relevant court.
HCJ will make submissions to the President of Ukraine on appointment of seven judges
On May 20, 2025, the HCJ took decision to make submission to the President of Ukraine on appointment of seven judges to the office.
List – at the link.
On May 22, 2025, the HCJ temporarily suspended judge of the Western economic court of appeal from administration of justice until June 9, 2025, in connection with criminal proceedings against him/her.
The judge is suspected of committing a criminal offence under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
HCJ changed the territorial jurisdiction of cases of the Krasnopilskyi district court of Sumy region
The HCJ changed the territorial jurisdiction of court cases of the Krasnopilskyi district court of Sumy region from June 2, 2025, by transferring it to the Zarichnyi district court of Sumy.
President of Ukraine supported the submission of the HCJ on appointment of 22 judges
By decrees of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi dated May 23, 2025 Nos. 318/2025–332/2025, 22 judges were appointed to local courts.