You're reading: Rada cuts number of Supreme Court judges

Ukraine’s parliament has adopted in the second reading and in general a bill providing for the reduction of the number of Supreme Court judges from 200 to 100.

The bill (No. 1008) was supported by 236 deputies at a plenary meeting of parliament on Oct. 16.

The norm on reducing the quantitative composition of the Supreme Court has been introduced into the law on the judicial system and status of judges.

The bill also amends the activities of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (commission). In particular, it is specified that the commission is a collegial body.

In addition, the bill provides for amendments to the laws on the purification of power, on the High Council of Justice.

It is proposed to extend the lustration to the leaders of the judge commission and the State Judicial Administration, who held their positions for at least a year from Nov. 21, 2013 to May 19, 2019. Corresponding changes will be made to the law on the purification of power.

The rules of the commission will be approved by the High Council of Justice by a majority vote of its members, as advised by the commission.

The methodology and procedure for conducting examinations in the selection of judges, as before, will be prepared by the commission, however, it will be confirmed by the High Council of Justice.

As reported, parliament after the adoption of the bill in the first reading, appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov with a proposal to receive an expert opinion from the Venice Commission regarding the bill No. 1008 “On amendments to some laws of Ukraine regarding the activities of judicial authorities” before voting on the bill in the second reading.