President enacts NSDC decision to speed up judicial reform

The decree was published on the president’s website, Ukrinform reports.

In accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the President decided to enact the NSDC decision of June 23, 2023 "On speeding up judicial reform and overcoming manifestations of corruption in the justice system."

The NSDC secretary has been tasked with monitoring the decision’s implementation.

As noted, the NSDC has decided to appeal to the legal subjects of a legislative initiative regarding the need to consider the issue of amending the Criminal Code in terms of strengthening criminal liability for corruption criminal offenses in the sphere of justice, providing for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 10 to 15 years with confiscation of property.

It is planned to strengthen the role of the institution of jury trial and expand the cases of its application.

In addition, the decree envisages checks by the High Council of Justice of all judges of the Supreme Court for possible disciplinary offenses or gross or systematic neglect of the judge's duties, confirmation of the legality of the sources of property origin.

It is also about the possibility of effective and transparent qualification evaluation of judges in line with the best world standards and methods as one of the priority tasks of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. At the same time, the possibility of introducing a periodic psychophysiological survey of judges with the use of a polygraph is foreseen.

Among other things, the Verkhovna Rada is recommended to speed up the adoption of a draft law on amendments to some laws of Ukraine to resume the consideration of cases on the disciplinary responsibility of judges and ensure the work of the Service of Disciplinary Inspectors of the High Council of Justice.

The decree enters into force on the day of its publication.

Photo: President’s Office