The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On 13 July 2021, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law aimed at restoring the work of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
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.
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.
On 1 June 2023, the High Council of Justice appointed 16 members of the Commission from among 32 previously selected candidates.
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.
On 7 August 2024, Andrii Pasichnyk was elected Chairman of the Commission. On 6 August 2025, he was re-elected as Chairman for a one-year term.
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:
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.
The Commission elects its Chairman and Deputy Chairman by a majority vote of its members.
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.
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.
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.
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 Roman Ihnatov, 2023–2024 Andrii Pasichnyk, from 2024
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.
See also
Judiciary of Ukraine Judicial reform in Ukraine High Council of Justice Constitutional Court of Ukraine Supreme Court of Ukraine
References
External links
What is the HQCJ and why does it need real reform at Ukrainska Pravda HQCJ of Ukraine: reform or leave unchanged at the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law