On March 25–26, 2026, Commission members Oleh Koliush, Vitalii Gatseliuk, Ihor Kushnir and Halyna Shevchuk visited the Chernivtsi City, where they took part in a scientific and practical round table entitled “Assessment and Career of Judge: New Procedures and Practical Aspects”.
Speakers at the event included Oleh Koliush, Deputy Chairman of the Commission; Vitalii Marchak, President of the Chernivtsi Court of Appeal; and Vitaliі Hordeiev, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. They emphasised the importance of this type of meeting. In their view, it promotes professional dialogue between representatives of the judiciary and academics and unites efforts to build a highly professional judiciary.
The event’s programme covered key aspects of personnel policy within the judicial system. In particular, Oleh Koliush provided information on the selection procedures and competitions organised by the Commission, and outlined the main areas of its work for 2026.
Issues relating to the improvement of judicial career procedures in the context of Ukraine’s European integration were discussed with representatives of the region’s legal community. Vitalii Gatseliuk focused on Ukraine’s international obligations in the field of judicial reform.
Participants also discussed issues of integrity and asset declarations, the fulfilment of European integration commitments, the application of the Code of Judicial Ethics, and the implementation of the conclusions of the Consultative Council of European Judges into national practice.
Halyna Shevchuk spoke about the work on the Commentary on the Code of Judicial Ethics, in the preparation of which she participated as a member of the working group of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, and also shared the Commission’s experience in this regard.
Ihor Kushnir highlighted issues relating to the secondment of judges, in particular the specificities of secondment from frontline territories, and also drew attention to regular assessment procedures.
The event was attended by judges from various jurisdictions in the Chernivtsi region, representatives of the Ivano-Frankivsk Court of Appeal and the Zakhidnyi Commercial Court of Appeal, as well as law lecturers from Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
Participants also familiarised themselves with the specifics of international judicial practice using examples from European countries and Canada, discussed the role of international standards in national reforms, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence on the judicial process and judicial careers.
The round-table format facilitated the exchange of practical experience and the development of common approaches to improving the efficiency of the judicial system. Following the discussion, participants agreed on a vision for the implementation of the standards of the Consultative Council of European Judges as the basis for judicial reform and the fulfilment of Ukraine’s European integration commitments.
The event was organised by the Chernivtsi Court of Appeal in conjunction with the Faculty of Law of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University.
Photo: Chernivtsi Court of Appeal