High Council of Justice (Ukraine)
| Вища рада юстиції | |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | March 31, 1998 |
| Jurisdiction | Ukraine |
| Headquarters | 89 Artem street, Kiev |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | www.vru.gov.ua |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Ukraine |
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Executive |
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The Supreme Council of Justice (Ukrainian: Вища рада юстиції) is an advising judicial and control-revisionary government body in Ukraine. The Supreme Council of Justice of Ukraine advises on the appointment or release of certain judges, examines the cases of infringements, and executes disciplinary proceedings involving judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and other high specialized courts.
The council was established on March 31, 1998 with the first session of it. The first chairman of the council became Valeri Yevdokimov.[1]
Composition
There are total of 20 members out which 17 are elected as representatives of a certain institution, while another three memberships are reserved for the senior offices of the national justice system .
- Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine
- Minister of Justice of Ukraine
- General Prosecutor of Ukraine
- 3 appointees
- Verkhovna Rada (by a secret ballot)
- President of Ukraine (by a Presidential Decree)
- Congress of Judges of Ukraine (by show of hands)
- Congress of Advocates of Ukraine (by show of hands)
- Congress of representative from law schools and scientific institutions (by show of hands)
- 2 appointees
- All-Ukrainian Conference of Employees of Procurocy (Prosecutors) (by show of hands)
The members of the council are split in two sections of 10 depending on their assigned duties: one - appointment/release of judges, another - disciplinary actions.
Membership
The term of membership in the council for all its elected members is six years, except for the three mentioned that are the members by a position. All members are required to take the oath of office within the first two months since their appointment.
- The oath of office
"I swear to perform the duties of a member of the Supreme Council of Justice conscientiously, honestly and without prejudice, in order to ensure formation of the corps of judges from highly qualified and honest lawyers, and observance of the Law and ethical norms in the activity of judges and public prosecutors".
Membership requirements
- citizenship of Ukraine
- between ages of 35 and 60 (inclusively)
- residing within Ukraine in the last 10+ years
- possession of the state language
- higher judicial education
- practicing of law no less than 10 years
People that physically incapable or have a limited physical capability as well as one who have any current unresolved convictions are categorically restricted from membership.
Chairmen of the Council
- March 31, 1998 - May 25, 2001 -- Valeri Yevdokimov, end of term
- May 25, 2001 - March 10, 2004 -- Serhiy Kivalov, becoming Head of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine
- March 10, 2004 - January 13, 2006 -- Mykola Shelest, becoming judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine
- January 13, 2006 - March 28, 2007 -- (acting) Lidiya Izovitova
- March 28, 2007 - March 22, 2010 -- Lidiya Izovitova, end of term
- March 22, 2010 - present -- Volodymyr Kolesnychenko
Publications
Official materials of the council is published in the Bulletin of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and in special cases in "Holos Ukrainy" and "Uryadovyi kurier".