Hryhorii Usyk: Currently one of the stages of the highest importance in the HCJ activities is the formation of the Disciplinary Inspectorate Service
During the meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU Project Pravo-Justice, the results of the current phase of the Project’s activities were discussed with national bodies of the judiciary within the framework of the following components: «Justice Sector policy, war crimes investigation», «Judiciary and judicial reform», «Protection of property rights and enforcement of court decisions» and «E-Justice».
Chairman of the HCJ Hryhorii Usyk noted that thanks to the EU Project Pravo-Justice and the USAID Justice for All Activity, the newly formed HCJ had been successfully established, interviews with candidates to the position of members of the HQCJU had been held in a short time and the authorized composition of the judicial governance body had been appointed. Also, thanks to the support of the Project, the High Council of Justice was granted the observer status in the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary.
HCJ dismissed for resignation four judges
The HCJ decided to dismiss four judges due to submission for resignation, in particular:
- Verba Iryna Oleksandrivna – from the office of judge of the Dnipropetrovskyi circuit administrative court;
- Kutsenko Tetiana Rudolfivna – from the office of judge of the Dniprovskyi court of appeal;
- Hnatyk Halyna Yevhenivna – from the office of judge of the Khortytskyi district court of Zaporizhzhia;
- Parakhina Yelizaveta Vladyslavivna – from the office of judge of the Leninskyi district court of Poltava.
Laws need to be implemented and specifically improved, but not be completely changed every time – Hryhorii Usyk, Chairman of the HCJ
Chairman of the HCJ Hryhorii Usyk and member of the HCJ Mykola Moroz took part in a round table held in Warsaw.
During the event, the recommendations of European experts on the functioning of Ukrainian judicial governance bodies and self-government bodies in Ukraine were discussed, a discussion was held on possible ways to develop Ukrainian legislation on the disciplinary liability of judges, as well as on the development of legislation to optimize the procedures for selecting judges.
The head of the HCJ noted: “It is not enough to have a legislative framework, it is necessary to analyze and improve it, comply with the norms of laws. It is important to make targeted changes to laws, and not update them every time. Judicial structure of our state is under threat of constant legislative changes. Currently, the main task of the High Council of Justice is to launch the work of the Disciplinary Inspectorate Service, which will be able to efficiently implement the powers of the HCJ to carry out disciplinary proceedings against judges.”
HCJ took decision on dismissal of judge of the Economic court of Odesa region
The HCJ decided to dismiss Lepekha Hennadii Anatoliiovych from the office of judge of the Economic court of Odesa region under subparagraph 4 of paragraph 16¹ of section XV “Transitional provisions” of the Constitution of Ukraine.
HCJ postponed the resumption of work of the Bilozerskyi district court of Kherson region
On November 30, 2023, the HCJ took decision to postpone beginning of the work resumption of the Bilozerskyi district court of Kherson region until February 1, 2024.
The Khersonskyi local court of Kherson region will continue to consider cases submitted to this court until January 31, 2024 inclusive.
Statement of the HCJ on the events over the judges of the Kyiv court of appeal
Members of the HCJ Yuliia Bokova and Olha Popikova took part in the XI Annual International Forum on the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, which was held in Lviv
The Annual International Forum on the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights is a platform for discussing important issues of the application of the ECtHR practice and its impact on Ukraine for all branches of government in Ukraine, judges of the ECtHR, lawyers, scientists, non-governmental organizations and experts in the field of human rights protection. The experts discussed pressing issues of human rights protection during war, the application of the ECtHR practice and its impact on Ukrainian justice.
11958 complaints regarding disciplinary misconduct of a judge were distributed in the HCJ
Since the resumption of automated distribution – from November 1 to December 1, 2023 – 11196 expired cases were distributed, disciplinary proceedings for which have not been completed by the previous composition of the Council and complaints received from August 5, 2021 to October 31, 2023. Of which 2857 cases were for the current week.
From November 1 to November there were also distributed 762 new cases received since November 1, 2023, of which 225 cases were for the current week.
Oksana Kvasha took part in the international scientific and practical conference “Justice in Ukraine during the war: problems of considering corruption and war crimes. VI Kyiv Polylogue”
At the opening of the event, the HCJ member Oksana Kvasha emphasized the importance of joint events holding for state institutions dedicated to discussing solutions to legal problems in Ukraine.
Moderating the thematic discussion “Criminal liability of war criminals: international standards, realities of judicial practice and prospects for implementation,” Oksana Kvasha noted the importance of taking measures to ensure that no war criminal who committed and continues to commit atrocities on the territory of Ukraine goes unpunished.
Chairman of the High Council of Justice held a personal reception of citizens
On December 1, 2023, the Chairman of the HCJ, Hryhorii Usyk, held a personal reception of citizens on issues within the competence of the High Council of Justice.
The Chairman of the HCJ provided appropriate verbal explanations to the questions put to him, taking into account the legislation governing the activities of the High Council of Justice. Citizens filed three appeals and five disciplinary complaints against judges, which will be considered within the powers of the HCJ.