During his speech at the 20th regular congress of Ukrainian judges, Andrii Pasichnyk, Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, reported on the progress of key procedures in judicial careers and the results of the Commission’s work.
According to him, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is simultaneously implementing several large-scale processes: the selection of candidates for positions of judges in local courts, competitions for appellate and specialised courts, a competition for the High Anti-Corruption Court, the qualification assessment of judges for suitability with their positions, and is also considering the issue of seconding judges to other courts.
The Chairman of the Commission noted that the large number of applications for participation in the selection of judges for local courts posed an additional challenge for the organisation of the procedure. To ensure its implementation, the Commission expanded its testing infrastructure and organised exams at several locations simultaneously. Part of the necessary technical support was provided with the support of international partners.
At the same time, the competition for the courts of appeal is ongoing, based on the results of which the Commission has already provided 178 recommendations to the High Council of Justice regarding the appointment of judges. As of today, 95 candidates have already taken up positions as judges in accordance with the decrees of the President of Ukraine.
There is also a competition for the High Anti-Corruption Court, in which 205 candidates took part. Special joint sessions of the Commission and the Public Council of International Experts are currently underway, to which 73 candidates have been admitted.
A competition for specialised courts has been launched, with the Commission receiving over 350 applications from candidates. Qualification exams for this procedure are scheduled for April-May.
Temporary staffing reinforcement of courts remains an important area of work. During 2025, the Commission issued recommendations on the secondment of 135 judges.
In addition, the Commission continues to conduct qualification assessments of judges, analyse declarations of integrity and family ties, and work on the digital transformation of judicial career procedures. In particular, an electronic system is being developed that will allow candidates and judges to submit documents, undergo assessment procedures and receive results through a personal electronic account.
According to Andrii Pasichnyk, the implementation of these procedures is primarily aimed at overcoming the shortage of personnel in the courts and improving the efficiency of the judicial system. At the same time, the Commission looks forward to continuing its constructive cooperation with the Council of Judges of Ukraine.
Photo: “Legal Practice”
