On 15 March 2022, the Ukrainian parliament adopted Law of Ukraine No. 2128-IX that temporally resolves the impasse on the proper functioning of the judiciary’s highest governing body, the High Council of Justice of Ukraine (HCJ) for the period of martial law in Ukraine.

The Law states that in the absence of the plenipotentiary HCJ, for the period of martial law and 30 days thereafter, the Supreme Court Chairman will be entrusted with the HCJ’s powers:

―          to appoint the Head of the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine (SJAU);

―          to apply with requests to the state authorities to ensure the independence of the judiciary;

―          to perform certain HCJ administrative functions.

In addition, for the period of martial law and 30 days thereafter, unless the plenipotentiary HCJ exists, the Law provides that the powers of the HCJ concerning the designation of the number of judges in the courts (except the Supreme Court) and the establishment of SJAU territorial bodies and powers related to the State Judicial Guard, will be entrusted to the SJAU.

These changes will help maintain stability within the judiciary during the state of martial law and provide a temporary solution to the judicial crisis that existed in Ukraine before martial law was introduced.

The Law came into force on 22 March 2022.

For more information on the work of the Ukrainian judiciary during the period of martial law in Ukraine, contact our CMS experts:

Olga Shenk
Counsel, Kyiv CMS CMNO,
Disputes Resolution practice Coordinator
T +38 044 391 3377
E olga.shenk@cms-cmno.com

Roman Hryshyn-Hryshchuk
Associate, Kyiv CMS CMNO
T +38 044 391 3377
E roman.hryshyn-hryshchuk@cms-cmno.com

Maria Orlyk
Kyiv CMS RRH,
Managing Partner Kyiv
T +380 44 500 1718
E maria.orlyk@cms-rrh.com

Oleksandr Protsiuk
Counsel, Kyiv CMS RRH
T +380 44 500 1718
E oleksandr.protsiuk@cms-rrh.com

LINK: https://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2022/04/ukraine-temporarily-reallocates-high-council-of-justice-powers