Meeting of the Commission Members with the delegation of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland, 29 October, 2015
Members of the High Qualification Commission of Ukraine met with the delegation of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland within their working visit on 29 October, 2015. It took place with the assistance of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the system of judicial accountability in Ukraine” and was purposed to exchange views and experiences on selection, training, appointment and issues of disciplinary accountability of judges.
The delegation included Mr. Piotr Raczkowski, Vice-Chairman of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland, Colonel, Judge of Military County Court in Warsaw, Mr. Waldemar Zurek, Mr. Andrzej Adamczuk and Mr Janusz Zimny, Members of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland and Mr. Rafal Michalczewski, representative of the International Division of the Office of the National Council of the Judiciary.
On the part of the Commission the meeting was attended by Mr. Sergii Koziakov, Commission Chairman, Mr. Stanislav Shchotka, Secretary of Qualification Chamber, Mrs. Anastasiia Zaritska, Mr. Pavlo Lutsiuk, Members of Disciplinary Chamber and Mr. Mykola Mishyn, Member of the Commission Qualification Chamber.
Mr. Koziakov told the Members of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland about the role of the Commission in reforming the judicial system of Ukraine.
In addition, parties discussed the role, status and powers of the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland and the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
Reference:
The National Council of the Judiciary (Krajowa Rada Sadownictwa) of Poland is a constitutional collegiate body that protects the independence of courts and judges. Scope and procedure of the Council work is established by the Constitution and the Law of the Republic of Poland “On the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland” as of 27 July, 2001.
The most important tasks of the Council are:
• providing opinions on legislation relating to judiciary and judges, as well as issuing resolutions on matters that are brought before the Constitutional Court for review of their compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland on independence of courts and judges;
• review and assessment of candidates for judicial positions and filing submissions to the President of Poland to appoint judges of the Supreme Court, High Administrative Court, courts of general jurisdiction, provincial administrative courts and military courts;
• adoption rules on professional ethics of judges and monitoring their compliance.
The Council consists of 25 Members. As it is in most other European countries, the composition of the Polish National Council of the Judiciary is mixed, but judges make up the majority of its Members.
The Council consists of the First Chairman of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Military Chamber of the Supreme Court, judge of the High Administrative Court, 2 judges of the Supreme Court, 1 judge of the High Administrative Court, 11 judges of general courts,1 judge of the Military Court, 4 Sejm deputies and 2 senators, the Minister of Justice and a person appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland.The Council elects Chairman and Vice-Chairman among its Members.
The term of office of the Council is four years.
