Experienced lawyer is a ready-made judge for the first instance, - Chief Justice of the SC
The judiciary is talking about simplifying qualification procedures for the selection of judges and quenching the staff shortage. At least for the duration of martial law. Lawyers can help solve the problem, among other things.
Censor.NET talked to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko about ways to solve the problem of staff shortage in the courts of Ukraine.
In particular, he criticized the duration of the judicial reform. «In my opinion, reforms are very good because they are the development of society. I'm not being disingenuous here, I really think so, - said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. - But for reforms to be effective, they cannot be carried out over ten years. Tell me, what kind of reform can be called if not a single judge has been appointed to the appellate courts in 10 years?».
S. Kravchenko even supported the journalist's assumption that it was advisable to change the procedures. «I think we will have to do it», - he said. The Chief Justice cited the example of a recent competition for first instance judges. Given the length of the selection process, he believes it will take at least a year or two to complete. The High Council of Justice has also announced a competition for 550 positions in the courts of appeal. «According to my forecasts, by the time this competition is over in a year, it will be a «zero» or «minus» result. Because a lot of judges will resign», - explained S. Kravchenko. «And I am afraid that soon a significant part of the state will be left without judicial control. And there will be no one to consider all the cases we talked about - about unauthorized leaving of a unit, establishing the facts of a person's death, etc.», - he added.
«Therefore, I think that the moment will come when such complex procedures will have to be revised, - said the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. - At least for the period of martial law and for certain categories of citizens - lawyers, prosecutors, investigators, and judicial assistants. If a person has 8-10 years of experience in these positions, believe me, he is a ready-made judge for the first instance».
The full interview with S. Kravchenko can be read here.
Popular news
Legislation
Advocates have warned that the draft Labor Code would curtail workers' protections
Certain provisions of the draft Labor Code of Ukraine regarding collective labor disputes undermine labor protections and do not comply with constitutional and international standards.
Educational events
The right of minors to marry: how judicial oversight works
The issue of granting minors the right to marry lies at the intersection of family law, child protection, and judicial discretion. The UNBA Committee on family law dedicated a webinar held on March 30 to this very topic.
Self-government
BCU: The HCJ’s decisions undermine the constitutional guarantees of the independence of the advocacy profession
The Bar Council of Ukraine has concluded that, in its recent decisions, the High Council of Justice has, without legal grounds, called into question the right of bar self-governing bodies to protect the guarantees of legal practice and has, in effect, attempted to grant one of its members — who retains the status of an advocate — special immunity from the Rules of professional conduct and disciplinary responsibility.
Announcements
The Bar Council of Ukraine begins its meeting
Today, April 2, a meeting of the Bar Council of Ukraine is taking place in Kyiv. On the agenda are issues related to the activities of bar self-governing bodies, consideration of a decision by the High Council of Justice, a number of appeals, as well as a discussion of the current state and pressing issues regarding the functioning of the legal aid system.
Interaction
The UNBA and the National Guard have agreed to cooperate on legal protection for military personnel
Servicemembers of the National Guard, their family members, and veterans are to receive additional legal tools to protect their rights, while the National Guard’s legal services will receive methodological and expert support.
Interaction
Protecting the rights of service members: The UNBA and the Military Ombudsman have agreed on cooperation
Servicemembers, reservists, conscripts during training exercises, members of local community volunteer units, and other individuals covered by the Law «On the Military Ombudsman» should have better access to professional legal assistance.
Discussion
New Labor Code: advocates highlight the strengths and risks of the draft
The draft Labor Code contains a number of progressive provisions aimed at modernizing labor legislation: digitizing procedures, expanding forms of employment, and increasing transparency in wage payments. At the same time, certain systemic issues require further refinement.
Rule of Law Roadmap
Reform without data and advocacy: what the Ministry of Justice’s launch has revealed
The Ministry of Justice hosted the first meeting of the working group on bar reform. But instead of professional preparation of legislative changes, we saw exactly what Armada Network Director Dale Armstrong had spoken about the day before in Kyiv: not reform, but a struggle for control over the agenda through a narrow circle of “stakeholders” who create an echo chamber of influence for themselves.
Publications
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition during wartime: when the risks outweigh the request
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition as a systemic form of rights violations
Victoria Yakusha, Law and Business The anti-corruption vertical cannot «take care» of the Bar as an institution, - acting head of the HQDCB
Censor.net Protecting advocates – protecting justice: addressing concerns about the new law
Ihor Kolesnykov A BRIEF SUMMARY REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDER ON EXTENDED CONFISCATION IN LATVIA REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSETS OF…
Valentyn Gvozdiy WORKING IN A WAR ZONE
Lydia Izovitova Formula of perfection
Sergiy Vylkov Our judicial system is so built that courts do not trust advocates