The Verkhovna Rada recommended appointing five new judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court
On July 3, the High Council of Justice approved the nominations of five judges to serve on the High Anti-Corruption Court. The relevant nominations will be submitted to the President of Ukraine.
At its meeting, the High Council of Justice (HCJ) reviewed materials regarding the submission of proposals to the President of Ukraine for the appointment of judges to positions at the High Anti-Corruption Court.
The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine provided recommendations for the appointment of judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Specifically, the HJC considered the following candidates:
- Vitalii Koryagin
- Vladyslav Kukhta
- Iryna Teslenko
- Oksana Hutsal
- Oleksandr Dudchenko
Following its review, the High Council of Justice decided to submit five nominations to the President of Ukraine for the appointment of the aforementioned candidates to the positions of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Vitalii Koryagin has over 16 years of experience as a judge. During the interview, members of the High Council of Justice asked about his motivation for joining the High Anti-Corruption Court. The candidate explained that he enjoys handling complex cases, and criminal corruption cases are among the most complex. He has over 10 years of experience as an investigating judge.
They also discussed the challenges of hearing cases involving high-ranking officials and his readiness to withstand political and media pressure. Vitalii Koryagin noted that over his 16 years of work, he has learned to resist pressure and maintain restraint and sound judgment when making decisions.
Vladislav Kukhta has over 17 years of experience as a judge. During the hearing, members of the High Council of Justice asked about his motivation for participating in the competition, his experience handling complex cases (particularly war crimes and treason), and the disciplinary sanction imposed for recusal in a high-profile criminal case.
The candidate explained that he seeks to specialize, as he currently handles all categories of cases. Regarding the recusal, he acknowledged that there were grounds for it, but admitted that fatigue was partly a factor, and that he had drawn the appropriate conclusions. Also discussed were his three-term election as court president in a small judicial body and the High Council of Justice’s reversal of a decision regarding positions in the appellate chamber.
Iryna Teslenko has over 9 years of experience as a judge and holds a Ph.D. During the interview, members of the High Council of Justice asked about her trips to the Russian Federation in 2014–2016 (to pick up medication for her parents), her participation in the competition for an appellate court position and her appeal of the High Council of Justice’s decision, as well as her financial integrity (the purchase and sale of vehicles) and a large number of disciplinary complaints.
The candidate explained the circumstances of the trips, noted that she had not visited the Russian Federation or the occupied territories since her appointment as a judge, and provided explanations regarding all questions. Her experience as an investigating judge and her assistance to colleagues in overburdened courts were also discussed.
Oksana Hutsal has served as a judge of the Orikhiv District Court in Zaporizhzhia Oblast since 2016. During the hearing, members of the High Council of Justice asked about her experience handling corruption cases, the timeframes for reviewing administrative cases under Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, and the circumstances surrounding her daily commute to work in Orikhiv following the start of the full-scale invasion.
The candidate explained that she had handled only one criminal corruption case, as well as administrative cases. Regarding the timeframes, she noted that some cases were filed after the deadline, and the closure of certain cases was due to objective reasons (failure of parties to appear, etc.).
Oleksandr Dudchenko, Candidate of Legal Sciences and associate professor, has significant academic experience. During the interview, members of the High Council of Justice asked about disciplinary sanctions imposed on him as a lawyer (for failure to pay annual dues), even though he had not engaged in active legal practice, as well as about his experience in administrative work at the university.
The candidate explained that he had not practiced law due to his academic work and had not kept track of changes in legislation. He emphasized his strong motivation, willingness to learn, and perseverance in preparing for the position of judge at the High Anti-Corruption Court.
The High Council of Justice almost unanimously supported the above-mentioned candidates and decided to submit a proposal to the President of Ukraine for their appointment as judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
Source: “Judicial and Legal Gazette”
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