HQCJ received 1001 applications for a competition to the Supreme Court and to the High Anti-Corruption Court, meaning that competition is 8 and 9 candidates for one position respectively
The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine summed up the results of submitting by candidates of documents for participation in competitions to the Supreme Court and to the High Anti-Corruption Court.
As of September 24, 2018, the Commission received 1,001 applications with sets of documents, of which 659 are for participation in the second competition to the Supreme Court and 342 are for participation in the competition to the High Anti-Corruption Court. The average competition for one position is 8 candidates and 9 candidates for one position to the courts mentioned respectively. It should be noted that during first competition to the Supreme Court for 120 vacancies 846 applications with documents were submitted, the competition was 7 candidates for one position.
“Candidates for the competition are experienced advocates, academicians and judges with experience in various areas. All of them are following very closely the procedures of the Commission, and do “foot voting” for the quality of the Commission’s procedures. The number of applications for one position which is by 20 % higher than for first competition to the Supreme Court and the fact that competition to one of the cassation courts 13 applications for one position shows that the Commission and its procedures are trusted. Thus, we see that the legal community supports public competitions and takes the opportunity given by the lawmaker to change the judiciary,” said Mr. Stanislav Shchotka, Deputy Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
Of the total number of documents for participation in the second competition to the Supreme Court, the Commission received 62% of applications from judges, 17% of applications from scholars, 14% of applications from advocates and 7% of applications from candidates with mixed experience.
In respect of the Supreme Court the competition is as follows:
- 181 applications the Civil Cassation Court for 23 vacant positions;
- 180 appeals to the Criminal Cassation Court for 13 vacant positions;
- 172 applications to the Administrative Cassation Court for 26 vacant positions;
- 125 applications to the Commercial Cassation Court for 16 vacant positions.
The Commission received the following applications for participation in competitions for the positions of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court:
- 102 applications for 12 positions in the Appeal Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court;
- 240 applications for 27 positions in the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Out of the general number of applications for competitions 45% of judges, 34% of advocates, 14% of academicians and 7% of candidates with mixed experience filed documents for participation in the competition to the High Anti-Corruption Court.
“As we expected, the majority of professionals in the field of law filed their documents in the last days. At present, the Commission is starting another stage, the procedure for checking documents in order to admit these candidates to the competition,” said Mr. Stanislav Shchotka.
He also emphasized that the Commission is ready to provide fair, open and public competition procedures.
It should be recalled that on August 2, 2018, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine announced competitions for 78 positions of judges of the Supreme Court and 39 positions of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court. Submission of documents for participation in competitions by judges, advocates and scientists with relevant experience lasted from August 8 to September 14, 2018.
According to the results of the first competition to the Supreme Court conducted by the HQCJ in 2016-2017, the first new court is established in Ukraine in the framework of judicial reform. It is functioning as of December 15, 2017.
