The results of the first day of the workshop Judicial Selection and Discipline: Achievements, Experience and Activity of the High Qualification Commission in the New Environment
The first day's workshop Judicial Selection and Discipline: Achievements, Experience and Activity of the High Qualification Commission in the New Environment was held on February 19, 2015.
Mr Sergii Koziakov, Chairman of the Commission, Mr David Michael Vaughn, Chief of Party of USAID FAIR Justice Project and Mr Mykola Onischuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine were opening the event.
During the first day of the workshop it was held 4 sessions. In the first of them – «Institutional establishment of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine: experience, lessons learned and action in the new environment" participants discussed the importance of ensuring continuity in the work of the Commission and the need to establish and maintain institutional memory in its work to preserve achievements take account of experience including to overcome the challenges facing the High Qualification Commission.
Sergii Koziakov, Chairman of the Commission told about the Commission's work in the new environment. He stressed the importance of amending the Law of Ukraine "On the Judicial System". He noted that members of the Commission were made 150 proposals to the Law concerning the procedures of the Commission, and 90 of them were included in the Act.
Sergii Koziakov drew attention to the new procedures and functions in the work of the Commission. The results of the evaluation of judges and judicial conduct dossier added in qualification and disciplinary functions under the new Law.
Mr Mykola Patriuk, Deputy Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine informed about some problematic issues related procedures refereeing career to. In his view, judicial candidates must necessarily be interviewed, it's important procedure on the way to obtain the post of a judge. He gave the example of the experience, which is used in the Netherlands, where judicial candidate should pass through several interviews.
During the first session Mrs Olena Ovcharenko, Expert on the judicial system of USAID FAIR Justice Project presented a report on the study "The issue of improving the procedure of transfer of judges to another court within the period of five years". Also during the session, participants discussed measuring the extent of judicial independence in the activities of the High Qualification Commission.
Mr Oleksandr Ishchenko, Head of the Department for Scientific and Methodological Support of the National School of Judges of Ukraine (NSJ) reported on anonymous testing for the candidates and quality assurance. He presented the experience of the NSJ in the development of test problems and challenges faced by developers during this process. He continued his session with Mr Sergii Mudruk, Expert of test methodologies of USAID FAIR Justice Project who presented the practice, principles and current trends in the professional testing certification. Sergii Mudruk also briefed the participants on the analysis of the results of anonymous testing during the third selection of judicial candidates in Ukraine.
During the third session, David Michael Vaughn, Chief of Party of USAID FAIR Justice Project spoke about international and European experience in shaping and defining judicial competence, evaluation of judicial candidates, and Project key judicial institutions on drawing up a list of judicial competence.
Mr Sergii Mudruk, President of the "Universal Examination network" presented a report "Analysis of Judicial Practice", which was conducted with the support of USAID FAIR Justice Project and in cooperation with the High Qualification Commission, NSJ, judiciary and civil society organizations. It was discussed the issues of formation and determination of professional, personal and social competence of judges.
Mr Mykola Onischuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine informed about the subject of special training for the candidates in Ukraine from the first experience in its conducting. In his speech was about providing special training process, determining the structure, developing training programs and creation its content. Mr David Michael Vaughn, Chief of Party of USAID FAIR Justice Project said about the problems in the organization and implementation of special training and solutions. He presented results of the cooperation Project with the National School of Judges of Ukraine to develop and implement training courses. Also, Mr Igor Osyka, Manager of the Project «Judicial Education for Economic Growth» informed about the development of new training courses for judges.
Continuation of the seminar will be held on February 20, 2015 where the participants will discuss the following topics during three sessions.
