Supreme Court of Ukraine

The Supreme Court of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Верховний Суд України, Verkhovny Sud Ukrayiny) is the highest judicial body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction in Ukraine.[1]

Supreme Court of Ukraine
Верховний Суд України
EstablishedDecember 15, 1917
LocationKlov Palace, Kyiv
Composition methodPresidential-parliamentary appointment
Authorized byConstitution of Ukraine
Appeals toConstitutional Court (constitutional matters)
Judge term length5-year term, renewable
Websitewww.scourt.gov.ua
Head
CurrentlyValentyna Danishevska
Since30 November 2017
First Vice President

The Court derives its authority from the Constitution of Ukraine, but much of its structure is outlined in legislation. More detailed description of the Court's functions and authority may be found in the Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges".

Structure

The Court consists of several judicial chambers (on criminal, civil, administrative, and arbitration (commercial) cases and the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court).[1] According to a judicial reform the Court consists of 48 justices.

Appointments to the Court are made after selected in a competition candidates are vetted by the Supreme Council of Justice, who then draw up a final list of candidates for the Supreme Court.[1] After a relevant presidential decree, these candidates will become judges of the Supreme Court.[1] Each member of the Court (as far as each judge in Ukraine) is obligated to retire at the age of 65.

The Chairman of the Supreme Court is elected to office and dismissed from office by the Plenary Assembly of the Court by secret ballot.[2]

In July 2010 functions of the Court was severely limited.[3] But in November 2011 the functions of Supreme Court were broadened; its number of judges became 48.[4]

History

The first Supreme Court of Ukraine was established on December 15, 1917 as the General Court of the Ukrainian People's Republic. It was the first established national court since liquidation of Hetmanate in the 18th century. Soon after that on January 17, 1918 the Communist government of Ukraine People's Secretariat declared about creation of the People's Court of Ukraine.

The General Court consisted of 15 judges that were elected by the Central Council of Ukraine on proposition of the General Secretariat of Ukraine. The competence of the elected judges was extended until the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine by the All-Ukrainian Constituent Assembly. Office of Prosecutor was established within the General Court and headed by the Senior Prosecutor who was appointed by the Secretary of Court Affairs (Minister of Justice).

The first judges to the court were elected on January 15, 1918 among which were M. Pukhtynsky, P. Achkasov, O. Butovsky, F. Popov, M. Radchenko, O. Khrutsky, S. Shelukhin, and H. Shyianov and later were joined by P. Yatsenko, M. Vasylenko, K. Tovkach, A. Margolin, M. Cherniavsky, B. Kistiakivsky, I. Kistiakivsky. The Senior Prosecutor was appointed Dmytro Markovych.

On July 8, 1918, the Hetman of Ukraine completely changed the upper echelon of judicial jurisdiction in the country.

The court in the Soviet Ukraine was established on March 11, 1923. It moved into the 18th-century Klov Palace in 2003.

According to a 2009 poll, the overall trust in the Court in Ukraine is very low.[5]

In the judicial reform introduced in 2016 the following three courts were abolished and its tasks transferred to special chambers of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.[6]

  • The High Specialized Court on Civil and Criminal Cases, covering civil and criminal cases;
  • The High Administrative Court of Ukraine, covering administrative cases;
  • The High Commercial Court of Ukraine, covering commercial cases.

Heads

Soviet period

NameTerm of officeNotes
Serhiy Buzdalin 1923–1924
Mykhailo Lebedynets 1924–
Mykhailo Mykhailyk 1925–1926
Frants Mazur 1926–1928
Semen Krupko 1928–1929
Herman Zavitskyi 1929–1934
Hryhoriy Zhelieznohorskyi 1934–1936
Fedir Shumyatskyi 1936–1938
Kostiantyn Topchiy 1938–1948
Petro Noshchenko 1948–1957
Fedir Hlukh 1957–1963
Volodymyr Zaichuk 1963–1970
Oleksandr Yakymenko 1970–1991

Independent period

Name[7]Term of officeLength of term
Oleksandr Yakymenko 1991–1993 2 years, 53 days
Heorhiy Butenko 1993–1994 342 days
Vitaliy Boiko 1994–2002 7 years, 307 days
Vasyl Malyarenko 2002–2006 3 years, 252 days
Vasyl Onopenko 2006–2011 4 years, 362 days
Petro Pylypchuk 2011–2013 1 year, 116 days
Yaroslav Romanyuk 2013–2017 4 years, 177 days
Valentyna Danishevska 2017–present 3 years, 71 days

Sources and references

  • "Information web-site of the Supreme Court" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  • "The High Arbitration Court of Ukraine (official site)". Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  • (in Ukrainian) Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges", as amended
  • General Court of Ukraine. Jurist Dictionary - Handbook.
  • Government of Ukraine – court overview
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