301 lawyers participate in the competition for the positions of members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, almost 19 persons per one vacant place – The Selection Commission

In particular, based on the results of checking documents for compliance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine on the Judiciary and the Status of Judges, the Commission approved 301 lawyers for participation. The list of candidates is posted on the High Council of Justice’s website at the following link.

In particular, 68% of men (206 persons) and 32% of women (96 persons) apply for 16 vacant positions in the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, including 53% of candidates aged 40 to 49, 23% – from 50 to 59 years old. Among the candidates admitted to the competition, 32% (96 persons) are judges, 21% (64 persons) have a mixed profile of professional activity, 17% (50 persons) are academicians, 15% (45 persons) are attorneys, 3.6% (11 persons) are retired judges, 3.6 %(11 persons) are prosecutors, 3% (9 persons) are representatives of law enforcement agencies, and 5% have other specialties.

The most significant number of applications from those wishing to become members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine came from lawyers from Kyiv and the region – 38% (116 candidates), the second place – Lviv region – 8.6% (26 candidates), the third – Kharkiv region - 8.3% (25 candidates), the fourth – Odesa region - 7% (21 candidates), the fifth – Dnipropetrovsk region - 5.3% (16 candidates).

As the Chairman of the Selection Commission, Ted Zarzeczny, noted during the meeting, the competition for the positions of HQCJ members gathered the largest number of applicants for one place among previous competitions held in the judiciary – almost 19 persons per one vacant place.

‘Such a large number of applications indicates the confidence of Ukrainian lawyers in the work of the Selection Commission for the selection of HQCJ members. We really did our best to show our clear goal - to do everything in our power to ensure that the competition is held on the principles of independence, objectivity, and equal rights and opportunities for all participants. For this purpose, we have developed the Rules of Procedure for holding the competition, as well as the Methodology and criteria for competitive selection. We are grateful to the lawyers of Ukraine for their trust and will make every effort to select the worthiest professionals for the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine,’ Ted Zarzeczny noted.

Deputy Chairman of the Selection Ivan Mishchenko noted that the continuation of judicial reform is an essential component of Ukraine's accession to the European Union. ‘Even in the face of military aggression, my colleagues and I will do everything possible to ensure that, in compliance with the requirements of the law, an important institution of judicial power responsible for staffing the courts of Ukraine – the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine - is formed. Launching this state body is a super-task, which is important not only for judges who will finally be able to replenish the courts of Ukraine but also for every citizen who is waiting for a fair trial,’ Ivan Mishchenko stated.

 Please, be reminded that the competition is conducted based on the rule of law, professionalism, publicity, and political neutrality in two stages. In the first stage, based on the review of the documents submitted by candidates, the results of a background check, and relevant information from open sources, a list of 64 eligible candidates for interview will be compiled. During the next stage, public interviews will be conducted, according to the results of which the Selection Commission shall select and submit for consideration to the High Council of Justice at least two candidates for each of the 16 vacancies, namely 32 candidates.  The High Council of Justice will appoint 16 members of the HQCJ.

Please be advised that the HQCJ has not been working for almost three years, and in order to resume its work the Selection Commission was established to select candidates for the positions of the HQCJ members on the basis of a transparent competition. The Commission announced the competition for the position of a member of the High Qualifications Commissions of Judges of Ukraine. Acceptance of applications for participation began on February 4, 2022, and was supposed to last until March 4, 2022; however, it was suspended due to Russian aggression and resumed on July 15, 2022. Lawyers who are citizens of Ukraine with high legal education, at least 15 years of legal professional experience, speak the state language and meet the integrity and professional competence criteria were allowed to participate in the competition.

The members of the Selection Commission are Serhii Verlanov, Judge of the Kyiv Court of Appeal; Yevhen Miezentsev, Judge of the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals; Ivan Mischenko, Judge of the Commercial Cassation Court, Supreme Court; Robert Broekhuijsen, a former Special Prosecutor in the Serious Fraud Office of the Dutch Prosecution Service; Ted Zarzeczny, a retired Judge at the Court of Queen’s Bench of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Stephen Markman - a retired Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, USA.