Review

In autumn 2019, the Judiciary of Ukraine once again became the object of reform, which once again showed the dependence of its stability on the change of the political elite in the state.

Thus, some provisions of the Law of Ukraine № 193-IX of October 16, 2019 «On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and Status of Judges» and some laws of Ukraine regarding the activities of judicial governance bodies» (Law № 193) were aimed at «resetting» the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQC).

As a result, effective at the time of entry into force of the Law № 193, the HQC has stopped exercising its powers, which led to the suspension of the activities of this body of judicial governance, which plays a key role in the staffing of the judiciary.

The purpose of the article is to study certain elements of the HQC’s legal status in light of their compliance with international standards and the wording of author’s proposals for its improvement.

As a result of the study, it was concluded that it is necessary to amend the Law «On the Judiciary and Status of Judges» (SCC Act), aimed at improving the status of the HQC.

Providing that such amendments, depending on the will of the legislator, may take place both locally – by changing certain provisions of the current SCC Law, and by adopting a generally new version of the SCC Law, it is proposed that: 1) part 1 of the SCC Law (currently it is Article 92 of the SCC Law) under the title «Status of the High Qualification Commission of Judges» look like this:

«The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is a state collegial body of judicial governance, which operates on a permanent basis in the justice system of Ukraine to ensure the formation of a virtuous and highly professional corps of judges, as well as to solve issues of judicial career.

The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is subordinated to the High Council of Justice within the limits determined by the law»;

2) Part 1 of the SCC Law entitled «Composition of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine» (currently Art. 94 of the Law on SCC «Members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine») provided that:

«The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine consists of 16 members, 9 of whom are appointed from among judges or judges in retirement».

In the context of the latest proposal, it is stated that the figure 16 used is the quantitative composition of the HQC, the change of which has been criticized by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. However, this figure cannot be considered unchanged. Changing the legally defined number of HQC members is possible if the functions assigned to it are ensured by the smooth and effective operation of this body.

Key words: High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, HQC status, HQC composition, judicial governance bodies, judiciary.

  REFERENCES LIST OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS   LEGISLATION

1. Vysnovok Venetsianskoi Komisii № 401/2006 shchodo zakonoproektu pro sudoustrii ta zakonoproektu pro status suddiv v Ukrainy [Conclusion of the Venice Commission № 401/2006 on the draft law on the judiciary and the draft law on the status of judges in Ukraine.] Strasburh 20.03.2007 <https://supreme.court.gov.ua/ userfiles/CDL_AD_2007_003_2007_03_20.pdf> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020) [in Ukrainian].
2. Vysnovok Venetsianskoi Komisii № 401/2006 shchodo zakonoproektu pro sudoustrii ta zakonoproektu pro status suddiv v Ukrainy [Conclusion of the Venice Commission № 969/2019 on amendments to legislative acts regulating the status of the Supreme Court and judicial governance bodies] Strasburh 09.12.2019. <https://www. echr.com.ua/document/visnovok-shhodo-zmin-do-zakonodavchix-aktiv-yaki-regulyuyut-status-verxovnogosudu-ta-organiv-suddivskogo-vryaduv annya/#_ftn11> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020). [in Ukrainian].
3. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 11.03.2020 r. № 4-r/2020 u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam Verkhovnoho Sudu shchodo vidpovidnosti Konstytutsii Ukrainy (konstytutsiinosti) okremykh polozhen zakoniv Ukrainy «Pro sudoustrii i status suddiv» vid 2 chervnia 2016 roku № 1402-VIII, «Pro vnesennia zmin do Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro sudoustrii i status suddiv» ta deiakykh zakoniv Ukrainy shchodo diialnosti orhaniv suddivskoho vriaduvannia» vid 16 zhovtnia 2019 roku № 193-IX, «Pro Vyshchu radu pravosuddia» vid 21 hrudnia 2016 roku № 1798-VIII [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine of 11.03.2020 № 4-р/2020 in the case on constitutional submission of the Supreme Court on compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine (constitutionality) of certain provisions of the laws of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and Status of Judges» of June 2, 2016 № 1402-VIII, «On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and Status of Judges» and certain laws of Ukraine regarding the activities of judicial governance bodies» of October 16, 2019 № 193-IX, «On the High Council of Justice» of December 21, 2016 № 1798-VIII] <https://zakon. rada.gov.ua/laws/show/v004p710–20#top> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020) [in Ukrainian].
4. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 01.12.2004 № 19-rp/2004 u spravi za konstytutsiinym podanniam Verkhovnoho Sudu Ukrainy pro ofitsiine tlumachennia polozhen chastyn pershoi, druhoi statti 126 Konstytutsii Ukrainy ta chastyny druhoi statti 13 Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro status suddiv» (sprava pro nezalezhnist suddiv yak skladovu yikhnoho statusu) [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine of 01.12.2004 № 19-рп/2004 in the case on the constitutional submission of the Supreme Court of Ukraine on the official interpretation of the provisions of parts one, second article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine and part two of Article 13 of the Law of Ukraine «On the Status of Judges» (case on independence of judges as part of their status)] <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/ laws/show/v019p710–04> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020) [in Ukrainian].
5. Promizhnyi vysnovok Venetsianskoi komisii № 803/2015 shchodo zaproponovanykh zmin do Konstytutsii Ukrainy v chastyni pravosuddia [Interim conclusion of the Venice Commission № 803/2015 on the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in terms of justice. Strasbourg] Страсбург, 24.072015 <https://vkksu.gov.ua/userfiles/doc/promi_visnovok.pdf> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020) [in Ukrainian].

  BIBLIOGRAPHY ARTICLES

1. A Kavakin, Velyka khartiia suddiv (Osnovopolozhni pryntsypy) [Magna Carta of Judges (Founding principles]: Konsultatyvna rada yevropeiskykh suddiv Dokumenty Konsultatyvnoi rady yevropeiskykh suddiv: ofits vyd. 2-he vyd (2017) 27–30 [in Ukrainian].
2. A Kavakin, Vysnovok № 1 (2001) Konsultatyvnoi rady yevropeiskykh suddiv do uvahy Komitetu ministriv Rady Yevropy pro standarty nezalezhnosti sudovoi vlady ta nezminiuvanosti suddiv [Conclusion № 1 (2001) of the Advisory Council of European Judges to the attention of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the standards of independence of the judiciary and the inability of judges] (Kyiv, Vydavnychyi dim «In Yure» 2017) 56–76[in Ukrainian].
3. A Kavakin, Vysnovok № 10 (2007) Konsultatyvnoi rady yevropeiskykh suddiv do uvahy Komitetu ministriv Rady Yevropy pro sudovu radu na sluzhbi suspilstvu [Conclusion No. 10 (2007) of the Advisory Council of European Judges to the attention of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the Judicial Council in the service of society] (Kyiv, Vydavnychyi dim «In Yure» 2017) 452–473 [in Ukrainian].

  WEBSITES

1. Vyshcha rada pravosuddia: sformuvaty VKKSU mozhlyvo lyshe pislia vnesennia zmin do zakonodavstva [High Council of Justice: it is possible to form the HQC only after amendments to the legislation] 10.03.2020 <https://hcj.gov.ua/news/vyshcha-rada-pravosuddya-sformuvaty-vkksu-mozhlyvo-lyshe-pislyavnesennya-zmin-do zakonodavstva> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020). [in Ukrainian].

10. Rekomendatsiia CM/Rec (2010) 12 Komitetu Ministriv Rady Yevropy derzhavam-chlenam shchodo suddiv: nezalezhnist, efektyvnist ta oboviazky: ukhvalena Komitetom ministriv Rady Yevropy [Recommendation CM/Rec (2010) 12 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member states on judges: independence, efficiency and responsibilities: adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe] 17.11.2010 < https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/ laws/show/994_a38> (data zvernennia 25.02.2020). [in Ukrainian].