About 70% of lawyers satisfied with results of judicial reform in Ukraine

According to a survey conducted by Gfk Ukraine at the initiative of the USAID New Justice Program in September 2018, the factors that have a positive impact on the independence and stability of the judiciary include a competitive selection of judges for the Supreme Court (78%), the introduction of judicial qualification evaluation (76%), regular assessment of judges (76%), reducing the scope of judicial immunity to functional one (68%), return to the three-level judicial system (64%), the derogation of powers of the president of Ukraine with regard to the transfer and appointment of judges (60%), the creation of a new Supreme Court instead of the old one (64%), and giving lawyers (78%) and scholars (52%) the possibility to apply for a judge of the Supreme and High Anti-Corruption Courts. 

The majority of lawyers interviewed (61%) said the participation of representatives of the international community in a competitive selection for the Anti-Corruption Court was justified. However, only 42% of respondents agree with the fact that the Anti-Corruption Court, which is being set up, will contribute to the fight against corruption in all branches of government. Slightly more lawyers - 49% - are sure that, in general, the judicial system can become the basis for overcoming corruption in all branches of government.

The survey conducted as part of the USAID New Justice Program covered lawyers and prosecutors that are engaged in court proceedings but are not employees of the judicial system, as well as representatives of judicial expertise, investigators of the Interior Ministry and other bodies. The survey was conducted in September 2018 through personal interviews with 400 people in Ukrainian cities with a population of over 50,000. The survey was conducted throughout Ukraine, except for Crimea and occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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