This week, on November 19, the Second Panel of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (composed of Volkova, Sydorovych, and Kydysiuk) decided that public involvement is not necessary in the process of qualification assessment. This decision breaches prior agreements. What exactly happened? The Public Integrity Council (PIC) reported that the Second Panel of the HQCJ… Continue reading Second panel of the HQCJ disrupts public involvement in qualification assessment of judges
A year ago, in November 2023, the qualification assessment of judges resumed. Since then, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) has assessed 203 sitting judges. Here’s how the judiciary’s “cleansing” process unfolded in numbers: 119 judges (58.6%) successfully passed the qualification assessment and will remain in office. 37 judges (18.2%) were recommended by the… Continue reading A year of the qualification assessment of judges: the majority of low-integrity judges remain in office
Today, on November 15, the Selection Commission for the HQCJ finalized its list of recommended candidates. The nominees are: Oksana Andriychuk — judge of the Commercial Court of Rivne Region. Vitalii Kryklyvyi — judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court. The final decision now rests with the High Council of Justice (HCJ), which will interview the… Continue reading Who did the Selection Commission recommend for the HQCJ?
Update as of November 8, 2024: The HQCJ’s website has confirmed that Olena Ponomarenko was dismissed from her position on November 6, 2024. On November 7, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) published the agenda for its plenary hearing, which included the matter of dismissing its Secretariat Head, Olena Ponomarenko. Ponomarenko, a close ally… Continue reading (Un)lasting Tenure: HQCJ considers the dismissal of Its Secretariat Head
7 Misconceptions about Judicial Reform in Ukraine
After 11 and a half months since the start of the qualification assessment of judges, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) has completed the assessment of 161 judges. 115 judges (71.4%) successfully passed the qualification assessment and will remain in their positions. The Commission recommended the dismissal of 34 judges (21.1%) to the High… Continue reading 11 and a half months of the qualification assessment: 46 low-integrity judges retained, 34 recommended for dismissal
On November 8, 2023, the EU Commission presented its first Ukraine report as a candidate country and recommended opening the negotiations. The report included a list of suggestions for further reforms and improvements. Our Shadow Report aims to provide an independent civil society assessment of Ukraine’s continued progress in the judiciary and fight against corruption,… Continue reading Rule of law, justice, and fundamental rights in Ukraine: Shadow Report
Almost eleven months have passed since the start of the qualification assessment. During this period, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) has finalised the assessment of 152 judges. 110 judges (72.4%) have passed the evaluation and will retain their positions, while 30 judges (19.7%) were recommended for dismissal by the High Council of Justice… Continue reading Eleven months of the qualification assessment: 46 judges of low integrity retained their positions, and 30 were recommended for dismissal
Volodymyr Luhanskyi, a member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ), is suspected of holding a fraudulent Doctor of Philosophy degree. This revelation was made in early August 2024 by colleagues from the Anti-Corruption Action Centre. Moreover, Luhanskyi reportedly received over 160,000 UAH in additional payments from the state budget due to this “degree.”… Continue reading Fake academic degree and 300,000 UAH salary: the HQCJ member exposed for fraud
On September 16, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) was scheduled to conduct a qualification assessment of Diana Kiblytska, a judge at the Industrial District Court of Dnipropetrovsk. She is one of 180 judges whom the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court attempted to shield from assessment. While it seemed that the HQCJ had… Continue reading Not unanimous: three members of the HQCJ oppose the assessment of a judge the Supreme Court tried to save
After the detrimental ruling of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court regarding judge Usatyi, the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) and the High Council of Justice (HCJ) were at a crossroads: whether to continue vetting of 180 judges with the Public Integrity Council (PIC) negative opinions or to start vetting the Supreme Court… Continue reading It’s happened: The HQCJ schedules an interview with the judge the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court tried to save
