High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine

High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine
Вища кваліфікаційна комісія суддів України
Agency overview
Formed1994
JurisdictionUkraine
Headquarters
  • 9 Henerala Shapovala Street, Kyiv, Ukraine
Agency executive
  • Andrii Pasichnyk, Chairman of the Commission
Websitewww.vkksu.gov.ua/en

The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (Вища кваліфікаційна комісія суддів України, HQCJ) is a permanent body in the judiciary of Ukraine responsible for the selection and qualification assessment of judges. The Commission consists of 16 members appointed by the High Council of Justice from among judges and legal professionals following an open competition.[1]

The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine was first introduced into Ukrainian legislation in 1994. Its role and functions have changed several times as part of Ukraine's judicial reforms.

History

On 15 December 1989, the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR approved the regulation on qualification boards of judges of the courts of the Ukrainian SSR. These boards were formed from among judges of the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian SSR, regional courts and the courts of Kyiv. They assessed candidates for judicial office, conducted qualification attestation of judges and considered disciplinary matters concerning judges.[2]

On 2 February 1994, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law establishing a system of qualification commissions of judges of Ukraine. This system included qualification commissions of judges of general courts, arbitration courts and military courts, as well as the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.[3]

In 2002, the Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary of Ukraine" defined a new system of qualification commissions, including the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.[4]

In 2010, the Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges" left only the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine in the system of qualification commissions and defined its new powers.[5][6]

In 2016, a new Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges" was adopted. It provided for a restart of the Commission and established the Public Integrity Council, which was intended to assist the Commission in assessing judges.[5][1]

In 2019, a new law provided for the dissolution of the Commission and a new procedure for forming it. However, the competition for the new Commission was blocked by the High Council of Justice. In March 2020, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine invalidated part of the provisions of the law.[5]

On 13 July 2021, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law aimed at restoring the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.[7][8]

The competition for the Commission began in September 2021, was interrupted for six months in 2022 after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was completed on 15 March 2023. The competition commission, half of whose members were international experts, selected 32 candidates from 301 participants.[9]

In June 2022, the European Commission included the formation of a new High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine among the requirements for Ukraine in connection with opening negotiations on accession to the European Union after Ukraine obtained candidate status.[10]

On 1 June 2023, the High Council of Justice appointed 16 members of the Commission from among 32 previously selected candidates.[11]

On 6 June 2023, the newly appointed Commission held its first organizational meeting. Roman Ihnatov was elected Chairman of the Commission, Ruslan Sydorovych was elected Deputy Chairman, and Serhii Chumak and Ruslan Melnyk were elected secretaries of the chambers.[12]

On 7 August 2024, Andrii Pasichnyk was elected Chairman of the Commission.[13] On 6 August 2025, he was re-elected as Chairman for a one-year term.[14]

Powers

Under the Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges", the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, among other things:[1]

  • keeps records of the number of judicial positions in courts, including vacant positions;
  • conducts the selection of candidates for judicial office;
  • organizes special checks of candidates for judicial office;
  • conducts qualification examinations;
  • submits recommendations to the High Council of Justice on the appointment of candidates to judicial office;
  • submits recommendations on the transfer of judges to other courts;
  • determines the needs for state-funded professional training of judicial candidates at the National School of Judges of Ukraine;
  • conducts qualification assessment of judges;
  • ensures the maintenance of judicial dossiers and candidate dossiers.

Composition

The Commission consists of 16 members. Eight members are appointed from among judges or retired judges. Members of the Commission are appointed by the High Council of Justice for a four-year term following a competition conducted by a specially established competition commission.[1]

The Commission elects its Chairman and Deputy Chairman by a majority vote of its members.[1]

Chambers

The Commission has two chambers, each composed of eight members. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Commission serve as the heads of the chambers. The Commission also elects secretaries of both chambers.[1]

Until 2023, the Commission had a chamber for selection and public service of judges and a qualification chamber. By decisions of the newly appointed Commission of 6 June 2023, they were reorganized into the First Chamber and the Second Chamber with equal powers.[15][16]

Current members

According to the official website of the Commission, the members of the Commission are divided between the First Chamber and the Second Chamber.[17]

Name Position Chamber
Andrii Pasichnyk Chairman of the Commission; Head of the First Chamber First Chamber
Serhii Chumak Secretary of the First Chamber First Chamber
Yaroslav Dukh Member of the Commission First Chamber
Roman Kydysiuk Member of the Commission First Chamber
Oleksii Omelian Member of the Commission First Chamber
Ihor Kushnir Member of the Commission First Chamber
Roman Sabodash Member of the Commission First Chamber
Ruslan Sydorovych Member of the Commission First Chamber
Oleh Koliush Deputy Chairman of the Commission; Head of the Second Chamber Second Chamber
Ruslan Melnyk Secretary of the Second Chamber Second Chamber
Mykhailo Bohonis Member of the Commission Second Chamber
Lyudmyla Volkova Member of the Commission Second Chamber
Vitalii Gatseliuk Member of the Commission Second Chamber
Nadiia Kobetska Member of the Commission Second Chamber
Volodymyr Luhanskyi Member of the Commission Second Chamber
Halyna Shevchuk Member of the Commission Second Chamber

Chairmen

  • Serhii Koziakov, 2014–2019[18][19]
  • Roman Ihnatov, 2023–2024[20]
  • Andrii Pasichnyk, from 2024[14]

Secretariat

Organizational support for the work of the Commission is provided by its Secretariat. The structure of the Secretariat is determined by the Commission.

The Secretariat also includes a service of inspectors who assist members of the Commission in performing their duties.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Про судоустрій і статус суддів". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Про затвердження Положення про кваліфікаційні колегії суддів судів Української РСР". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Про кваліфікаційні комісії, кваліфікаційну атестацію і дисциплінарну відповідальність суддів судів України". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Про судоустрій України". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Що таке ВККС і чому вона потребує реальної реформи". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Про судоустрій і статус суддів". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Рада схвалила перезапуск Вищої кваліфікаційної комісії суддів за участі міжнародних експертів". European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 13 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Про внесення змін до Закону України "Про судоустрій і статус суддів" та деяких законів України щодо відновлення роботи Вищої кваліфікаційної комісії суддів України". Official web portal of the Parliament of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Matola, Viktoriia (28 March 2023). "Конкурс до ВККС: відбір кандидатів та конфлікт у судовій системі". Suspilne News (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Кандидат авансом: 7 вимог, які має виконати Україна, щоб ЄС не скасував її новий статус". European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Перелік членів Вищої кваліфікаційної комісії суддів України". High Council of Justice (in Ukrainian). 1 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Roman Ihnatov is elected as the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Andrii Pasichnyk is elected Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 "The Leadership of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine Has Been Elected". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Рішення ВККСУ № 6/зп-23". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Рішення ВККСУ № 7/зп-23". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Members of the Commission". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Сергій Козьяков". Mirror Weekly (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Одеський суд заборонив 8 членам ВККСУ проводити оцінювання". LB.ua (in Ukrainian). 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Roman Ihnatov is elected as the Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine". High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
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