The Selection Commission for the Service of Disciplinary Inspectors of the High Council of Justice (SDI HCJ) will ease the requirements for candidates for the head position and expects his selection by the end of October 2024, in line with commitments to the EU.

"We fully understand the importance of appointing the individuals responsible for preparation of disciplinary cases regarding judges for review. This obligation is linked to the EU aspirations of Ukraine. So for us it is clear that we have to do our best to select these people in a timely manner, " Reda Moliene, Head of the Selection Commission for positions in SDI HCJ, told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to Ms. Moliene, the commission plans to complete all the selection procedures, except for appointing the head of the SDI, by mid-September.

The Head of the commission explained that one of the reasons for not selecting the head of SDI is the lack of a large number of applicants for this position and additional technical requirements for candidates not prescribed by law. In particular, one of the requirements to the candidates during the first competition was a foreign language proficiency certificate.

"The commission asked the High Council of Justice to withdraw this requirement, we will be able to evaluate foreign language proficiency during the interview," she said.

When clarifying the timeframe of the selection of the Head of the SDI, without whom the Service will not function properly, Ms Moliene emphasized that the law allows appointing both inspectors and the deputy head of the SDI without the Head.

"We do not plan to delay the competition of the Head for too long," she stated.

Reda Moliene added that it takes one month for applications. "Then we will do everything possible to make competition for this particular position fast and effective so that we would have the Head selected till the end of October. So, the Service will have been completed by the end of the year", said the Head of the Selection Commission.

Thus, according to Ms Moliene, the SDI will start its work on time, and Ukraine will fulfill its commitments.

The head of the commission also called on lawyers with sufficient qualifications to apply for the position of head of the SDI, adding that the Service is important in the process of the judiciary reform and Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

The importance of the timely launch of the SDI comes from Ukraine’s obligations to international partners. In November 2023, the European Commission published a report on Ukraine as part of EU enlargement package. Establishing the SDI based on a transparent and merit-based procedure is one of the commitments to the EC that Ukraine undertook for 2024.

The Matrix of Reforms and the procedure for monitoring of the implementation of recommendations by Ukraine, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, approved the creation of the SDI and the transfer of the authorities for preparation of disciplinary cases against judges for review from the HCJ to the Service.

In particular, disciplinary inspectors will conduct an initial review of complaints, investigate into the circumstances specified in the complaint, draft opinions and present the case files during disciplinary proceedings. Currently, over 10,000 complaints against alleged illegitimate actions of judges are pending, which cannot be considered without the establishment of the SDI.