OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS
OF THE HIGH QUALIFICATION COMMISSION OF JUDGES OF UKRAINE
February 2025
Procedures of the judicial career
Competition to the appeal courts
The third stage of the qualification exam “Completion of a practical assignment” was held within 19 days (from February 03 to February 27, 2025)
|
Specialization |
Admitted |
Appeared |
Failed to appear |
Refused |
TOTAL |
|
Administrative |
105 |
105 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
|
Commercial |
98 |
98 |
0 |
0 |
98 |
|
Criminal |
507 |
506 |
1 |
0 |
506 |
|
Civil |
410 |
409 |
1 |
1 |
408 |
|
TOTAL |
1120 |
1118 |
2 |
1 |
1117 |
General statistics of the competition to the courts of appeal
|
By specializations |
|||||
|
Stage |
Administrative |
Commercial |
Criminal |
Civil |
TOTAL |
|
Applied with applications (1 candidate did not choose a specialization) |
191 |
185 |
912 |
787 |
2076 |
|
Admitted to the competition |
173 |
160 |
821 |
687 |
1841 |
|
Successfully passed the first stage “Test in the field of law” |
132 |
134 |
703 |
619 |
1588 |
|
Successfully passed the second stage “Test of cognitive abilities” |
105 |
98 |
507 |
410 |
1120 |
Competition to the High Anti-Corruption Court
Two special joint meetings of the Commission and the Public Council of International Experts were held to determine whether the candidates for the positions of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court met the criteria set out in part four of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine “On the High Anti-Corruption Court”. The results for 7 candidates were approved. Two candidates continue to participate in the competition.
Selection for the position of a local court judge
From February 17, 2025, the possibility to submit documents for participation in the selection procedure for the position of a local court judge has been opened at the official website of the Commission (ksk.vkksu.gov.ua). The Commission’s YouTube channel has updated the playlist “Submission of Documents in Electronic Form” with video explanations on how to submit documents for participation in the selection of candidates for the position of judge in electronic form.
[more] – in Ukrainian
Qualification evaluation for suitability of a judge for his/her position held and in connection with the imposition of a disciplinary sanction
Interviews were conducted with 10 judges:
8 judges were found to be suitable for the position held:
- Oleksandr Harbuz, Holovanivskyi Raion Court of Kirovohrad Oblast;
- Svitlana Hrabets, Commercial Court of Kyiv Oblast;
- Olena Mykhailiuk, Chutivskyi Raion Court of Poltava Oblast;
- Volodymyr Ratsa, Bolhradskyi Raion Court of Odessa Oblast;
- Olena Semchuk, Commercial Court of Poltava Oblast;
- Borys Slobodianiuk, Sarnenskyi Raion Court of Rivne Oblast;
- Yulia Sokolova, Ternivskyi Town Court of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast;
- Iryna Solodovnyk, Ternivka City Court; Dnipropetrovska oblast;
Not suitable for the position held – 2 judges:
- Andrii Boichuk, Prymorskyi District Court of Odessa City;
- Oleksii Ryzhyi, Sarnenskyi Raion Court of Rivne Oblast.
The evaluation of 3 judges was suspended.
Conclusions of the Public Integrity Council on 3 judges were received:
- Pavlo Skutelnyk, Commercial Court of Kyiv Oblast;
- Iryna Solodovnyk, Ternivskyi Town Court of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast;
- Larysa Stotska, Pershotravnevyi District Court of Chernivtsi City .
Following consideration of the Public Integrity Council’s conclusions, Commission in plenary composition recognized:
7 judges as suitable for the position held:
- Svitlana Hrabets, Commercial Court of Kyiv Oblast;
- Olena Mykhailiuk, Chutivskyi Raion Court of Poltava Oblast;
- Volodymyr Ratsa, Bolhradskyi Raion Court of Odessa Oblast;
- Olena Semchuk, Commercial Court of Poltava Oblast;
- Borys Slobodianiuk, Sarnenskyi Raion Court of Rivne Oblast;
- Yulia Sokolova, Ternivskyi Town Court of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast;
- Iryna Solodovnyk, Ternivka City Court; Dnipropetrovska oblast;
2 judges as not suitable for the position held:
- Andrii Boichuk, Prymorskyi District Court of Odessa City;
- Oleksii Ryzhyi, Sarnenskyi Raion Court of Rivne Oblast.
The number of judges who need to complete a qualification evaluation for their suitability for the position held is 31%.
Secondments
7 notifications on secondments were received.
There were considered the issues of judges’ secondments:
- to 3 courts due to an excessive level of judicial workload;
- from 3 courts due to a change in the territorial jurisdiction of court cases.
It is recommended that judges be seconded to such courts:
- Dzerzhynskyi District Court of Kharkiv City (2 judges);
- Dovhyntsivskyi District Court of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (4 judges);
- Karlivskyi Raion Court of Poltava Oblast (1 judge);
- Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Raion Court of Kyiv Oblast (1 judge);
- Koziatynskyi City-Raion Court of Vinnytsia Oblast (1 judge);
- Lychakivskyi District Court of Lviv (1 judge);
- Kharkivskyi Raion Court of Kharkiv Oblast (1 judge).
Key decisions of the Commission
The program and taxonomic characteristics of the test on the history of Ukrainian statehood have been published. This will be the first time that such testing will be conducted as a mandatory stage of the selection process for the position of a judge in Ukraine.
The programs of the stages of the qualification exam and taxonomic characteristics of anonymous tests on general knowledge of law and each specialization of the local court for judicial candidates and judges who intend to be transferred to another local court
Typical questions for cognitive abilities testing for the qualification exam within the selection of candidates for the position of a local court judge and judges who intend to be transferred to another local court have been published
A joint strategic session of the Commission and the Public Integrity Council was held to agree on mechanisms of interaction during the competition to the appeal courts and selection of the honest and qualified personnel to replenish the judiciary
Data on the accounting of judges’ positions
The records include data on the creation of 22 new vacant judicial positions:
in local courts – 16:
- Chechelnytskyi Raion Court of Vinnytsia Oblast (death of the judge [1]);
- Pishchanskyi Raion Court of Vinnytsia Oblast (paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
- Nemyrivskyi Raion Court of Vinnytsia Oblast (resignation [1]);
- Mezhivskyi District Court of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (resignation [1]);
- Vasylkivskyi City-Raion Court of Kyiv Oblast (recognition of assets as unjustified / verdict [1]);
- Kirovskyi District Court of Kirovohrad City (sub-clause 4 of clause 16-1 of section XV of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
- Kamianka-Buzkyi Raion Court of Lviv Oblast (resignation [1]);
- Suvorovskyi District Court of Odessa City (resignation [1]);
- Kyivskyi District Court of Poltava City (resignation [1]);
- Leninskyi District Court of Poltava City (paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
- Shchorskyi Raion Court of Chernihiv Oblast (resignation [1]);
- Horodnianskyi Raion Court of Chernihiv Oblast (resignation [1]);
- Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv City (voluntary [1]);
- Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv City (resignation [1]);
- Commercial Court of Kharkiv Oblast (paragraph 3 of part six of Article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine [1]);
- Rivnenskyi District Administrative Court (resignation [1]);
in the courts of appeal – 4:
- Odesa Court of Appeal (resignation [1]);
- Північний апеляційний господарський суд (resignation [1]);
- Другий апеляційний адміністративний суд (resignation [1], death of a judge [1]);
in the Supreme Court – 2:
- Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court (resignation [1]);
- Commercial Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court (resignation [1]).
The records include data on the reinstatement of judges:
- Frankivskyi District Court of Lviv City [1].
[more] – in Ukrainian
Meetings
- meetings were held, of which:
- in plenary composition – 7;
- special joint meetings of the Commission and the PCIE – 3;
- in Chamber composition – 6;
- in Panel composition – 11;
[more] – in Ukrainian
45 decisions of the Commission were adopted, of which:
- on selection and appointment of judges – 2;
- on transfer (secondment) of judges – 11;
- on verification of declarations of family ties and integrity of a judge (candidate for the position of a judge) – 1;
- on qualification evaluation of judges – 17;
- on holding a competition for the positions of judges of higher specialized courts – 7;
- on general issues – 7.
[more] – in Ukrainian
Participation in the events
February 01, 2025 – a strategic session of HQCJU and PIC members;
February 03, 2025 – an online meeting of the HQCJU members with the heads of Ukrainian courts on the selection of candidates for the position of a local court judge;
February 04, 2025 – a working meeting of the HQCJU members and the Public Council of International Experts before the special joint meetings (organizational issues were discussed);
February 06, 2025 – a meeting in Lviv of the HQCJU members with future candidates for the positions of local court judges, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association;
February 07, 2025 – participation of the Commission’s representatives in the forum “Accession of Ukraine to the EU: Shaping the Transformation Agenda”, organized by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine;
February 08, 2025 – a meeting in Dnipro of the HQCJU members with future candidates for the positions of local court judges, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association;
February 10, 2025 – a roundtable discussion on judicial independence held by the High Council of Justice with the participation of members of the Commission, the EU Pravo-Justice project and representatives of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary;
February 11, 2025 – a meeting in Kharkiv of the HQCJU members with future candidates for the positions of local court judges, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association;
February 13, 2025 – participation of the Commission’s representatives in extended meetings with the heads of courts of appeal with the participation of the Supreme Court and representatives of the judiciary;
February 13-14, 2025 – participation of the Commission’s representatives in the roundtable “Justice Sector Reform on the Path to Ukraine’s Accession to the EU”, organized by the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC).
February 21, 2025 – a meeting in Odesa of the HQCJU members with future candidates for the positions of local court judges, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association;
February 25, 2025 – participation of the Commission members in the open discussion “Ethical rules for CCU judges: the need for public trust”;
February 28, 2025 – meeting in Kyiv of the HQCJU members with future candidates for the positions of local court judges, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association.
The Commission conducted an information campaign on the occasion of the start of the selection of judges to local courts aimed at raising awareness of the public and potential candidates about the conditions for participation in the selection. In addition to regional meetings with the legal community and courts, announcements and explanatory materials were published on the Commission’s website and in social media. Members of the Commission participated in TV and radio broadcasts (“Suspilne”, “Ukrainian Radio”), answering key questions about the selection process. This initiative is aimed at attracting a wide range of eligible candidates and ensuring transparency of the selection process.
Litigation
The Commission’s interests were represented in 26 hearings of the Supreme Court.
Court decisions upholding the Commission’s position:
1. Case No. 990/190/23 on the claim of Y. Kifliuk for recognition of the decision as unlawful and cancellation of the decision (selection, qualification exam):
By the Ruling of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court dated February 25, 2025, the Commission’s appeal was granted and the decision of the Administrative Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court dated June 03, 2024, was overturned. A new decision was issued, fully dismissing the claims of Y. Kifliuk.
2. Case No. 990/99/24 on the claim of K. Mudrytska for the invalidation of the Commission’s decision No. 258/ds-24 dated February 28, 2024 (selection, interview):
By the Ruling of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court dated February 27, 2025, the appeal of K. Mudrytska was dismissed, and the decision of the Administrative Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court of October 17, 2024, which denied the claim of K. Mudrytska, was upheld without changes.
Document flow
1,800 documents were processed:
- 1 130 – incoming documents;
- 670 – outgoing documents.
164 inquiries and appeals were reviewed:
- 10 lawyer’s requests;
- 89 requests for information;
- 65 appeals;
- 506 other inquiries.
Assistance in the implementation of judicial career procedures will be gladly provided, and proposals for improving work will be considered!
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