IX Annual Judicial Forum “Vector of Development 2020”
On November 26–27, 2020, the IX Annual Judicial Forum “Vector of Development 2020” organized by the Ukrainian Bar Association together with the Council of Europe Support to the implementation of judicial reform in Ukraine Project took place online.
Judges, lawyers, representatives of highest state bodies, international and national experts, scientists and public figures met to discuss the topical issues and challenges for the judiciary.
The first day of the event was devoted to the discussion of the consequences of the Constitutional Court’s decisions with taking into account the opinions of the Venice Commission and international experts on judicial reform, further steps in reforming the judiciary and the institution of judicial responsibility for knowingly unjust decisions.
Particular attention was paid to guarantees of the independence of the judiciary and opportunities to overcome the shortage of judges.
Thus, an expert of the Council of Europe, former President of the Consultative Council of European Judges, member of the CCJE Bureau and President of the Croatian Supreme Court Juro Sessa said that judge’s work should be based on the principles of independence, inviolability and impartiality.
The event was also addressed by the People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy Andrii Kostin. He stressed that the priorities are to finalize the draft law No. 3711 “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and some laws of Ukraine on the activities of the Supreme Court and judicial authorities” and to resume the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
In turn, the Chairman of the High Council of Justice Andrii Ovsienko said that the shortage of judges leads to an increase in the judicial workload and, as a consequence, an increase in the terms of consideration of cases. Thus, as of today, 34% of judicial positions remain vacant. At the same time, due to the termination of work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, 2 284 judges of local and appellate courts did not pass the qualification evaluation (among them more than a hundred judges do not administer justice due to the expiration of their term).
The following day, the forum participants discussed the unity and consistency of the case law, the stability of legislation for Ukraine’s investment attractiveness, the moratorium on charges from the public sector and alternative dispute resolution, including improving the formation and operation of arbitration courts, mediation and the institution of Magistrate’s Court.
Reference:
The Council of Europe Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine Project is being implemented through a financial contribution from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is a continuation of the work undertaken by the Council of Europe on the reform of the judicial system of Ukraine. The purpose of the Project is to further approximate the Ukrainian justice system to the Council of Europe standards and recommendations.
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