“Access” with obstacles: MPs refuse to grant effective access to judges’ dossiers for the Public Integrity Councils

On October 1, the Verkhovna Rada’s Legal Committee rejected amendments to the draft law concerning the Public Council of International Experts (No. 11426), which included provisions for access to judicial files.

The Public Council of International Experts (PCIE) was established to support the selection of High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) judges, a process commended by civil society as a model of transparency and effectiveness.

What’s the issue?

The amendments sought to resolve the lack of full access to judges’ dossiers, which contain all relevant information about a judge or candidate, for members of the PCIE and the Public Integrity Council (PIC). The PIC itself emphasized the importance of legislating “full access to judges’ dossiers (or candidates’ dossiers),” particularly for both councils involved. Unhindered access to this information is crucial for the effective participation of these bodies in the selection and assessment processes. However, MPs disregarded this need.

Additionally, MPs recommended extending the PCIE’s mandate by 18 months — a partial improvement but still insufficient.

By ignoring the concerns of civil society and international partners, the committee’s actions are likely to have negative consequences, including slowing the pace of judicial evaluations, a responsibility now directly tied to MPs.