On June 1, 2023, the High Council of Justice appointed the authorized composition of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine and unblocked the work of the key body responsible for the formation of the judicial corps. This will allow for the selection of judges for over two thousand vacant positions and complete the qualification assessment of judges.
The formation of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is one of the main goals outlined by the President of Ukraine in the Strategy for the Development of the Justice System and Constitutional Judiciary for 2021-2023. After all, Ukraine's preservation of the status of a candidate country for EU accession and the success of further negotiations regarding Ukraine's full membership in the European Union depend on this decision.
“The resumption of the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is a significant step towards restoring the trust of our citizens in the judicial branch of the government. We all understand that without access to justice, sustainable and democratic development of the state is impossible. The renewed composition of the HQCJ faces many challenges that need to be solved,” noted Hryhorii Usyk, the Chairman of the HCJ.
The powers of the previous composition of the HQCJU were terminated on October 16, 2019, due to the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Law of Ukraine No. 193-IX “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and some laws of Ukraine regarding the activities of judicial governance bodies”.
According to the results of the conducted interviews with 32 candidates recommended by the Selection Commission for the selection of the candidates for the positions of members of the HQCJU, the HCJ appointed 16 members to the Commission.
Eight members were appointed from among judges and retired judges.
Aware of the importance of the appointment of the members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine for society, the judicial branch of government and the trust in the HCJ, the voting for each candidate was conducted openly – by a show of hands, in accordance with the amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the HCJ approved the day before. The voting results of each member of the HCJ were also recorded in the protocol of the voting proceedings.
“Any reform that requires fundamental changes is a long process, and its results may not be immediately noticeable but only become apparent later. The HCJ must set an example. Even if the percentage of trust leads to an increase of our small steps, it will be a positive outcome that can be continued and solidified,” summarized Hryhorii Usyk.
For reference. In accordance with the Methodology, a candidate for the position of a member of the HQCJU shall be deemed to meet the integrity criterion if he/she is independent, honest, impartial, incorruptible, conscientious, adheres to ethical standards and demonstrates impeccable behaviour in professional activities and private life, and also if there are no doubts regarding the legality of his/her assets origin, the conformity of the standard of living of the candidate or his/her status or members of his/her family with the declared income, the conformity candidate’s life style to his/her status. The Selection Commission for the selection of the candidates to the positions of the members of the HQCJU submitted to the HCJ the formed list of the candidates who, based on the results of the competition, it recognized as meeting the criteria of integrity and professional competence.