Judicial reform: a fresh start is needed

The judicial reform which began after the Revolution of Dignity has been the most substantial in the history of independent Ukraine. Have the reforms achieved their goals? What are the successes and failures of the reforms and what are their causes? Which reforms should Ukraine continue to implement in order to raise public confidence in the judiciary and improve the efficiency of the administration of justice? The goal of this policy brief is to provide answers to these questions.

This brief briefly describes and assesses Ukraine’s major judicial reforms after the Revolution of Dignity. This brief also sets forth recommendations for improving the current state of affairs, primarily a change in the fundamental formation of the bodies making decisions on judicial careers.