First Meeting of the Newly Elected Council of Judges of Ukraine Takes Place

In Kyiv, the first meeting of the newly elected Council of Judges of Ukraine took place, representing a pivotal moment for judicial self-governance in the nation. According to the Judicial and Legal Newspaper, the meeting was opened by Vitaliy Salikhov, the head of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, who emphasized the importance of the council's work, particularly in the context of the ongoing war.

At the beginning of the meeting, Vitaliy Salikhov reminded attendees that, according to the Regulations of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, approved in 2020, a meeting is deemed legitimate if more than half of the total council members are present. The participants, consisting of 29 members of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, one of whom joined online, confirmed the legitimacy of the meeting, allowing it to commence.

Alexander Mamaliy, Deputy Head of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Council of Judges, also spoke about the critical importance of avoiding populist statements regarding the funding of the judicial system. He highlighted that, given the prolonged war, state resources remain limited, and the primary task at hand is to preserve existing guarantees and the functionality of the judiciary.

"We understand that the war may last a long time, and funds will not increase — they may only decrease. Therefore, our main task today is to not lose what we already have. We will think about development later; for now, we need to focus our efforts on maintaining existing capabilities and combating the challenges we can realistically overcome," Mamaliy stated.

Igor Dashutin, Head of the Cassation Administrative Court of the Supreme Court, also outlined the primary tasks for the new council. He stressed that at the beginning of its work, the new council must identify key areas of activity and commence planning further steps to effectively fulfill its responsibilities.

During the meeting, the Council of Judges unanimously voted to approve the agenda. Among the planned issues to be addressed is the compliance of individuals applying for the position of judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine with the requirements of the Constitution and relevant laws. The council also plans to determine the organizational structure and approve the personal composition of the Committees of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, update the composition of commissions and working groups formed by the council in collaboration with other state authorities, and discuss the powers of council members working in various regions of Ukraine.

Additionally, the Council of Judges intends to approve a tentative schedule of regular meetings for the entire year of 2026, which is an important step in planning the body's work. As previously reported, in March, during the XX Congress of Judges, delegates re-elected the composition of the Council of Judges of Ukraine, with Vitaliy Salikhov, a judge of the Kyiv Court of Appeal, being elected as its head.

This event underscores the importance of stability and effectiveness within Ukraine's judicial system, especially given the complex political and social situation arising from the ongoing war. The Council of Judges of Ukraine aims not only to support the functioning of the judicial system but also to ensure its development in the future.

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