Supreme Court of Ukraine

Supreme Court of Ukraine
Верховний Суд України

Established December 15, 1917
Country Ukraine
Location Klov Palace, Kiev
Composition method Presidential-parliamentary appointment
Authorized by Constitution of Ukraine
Decisions are appealed to Constitutional Court (constitutional matters)
Judge term length 5-year term, renewable
Website www.scourt.gov.ua
Acting President
Currently Yaroslav Romanyuk[1]
Since 17 May 2013[1]
First Vice President
Ukraine
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government 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.

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). According to a judicial reform the Court consists of 48 justices. Appointments to the Court are made by the parliament and have no fixed time limit. But 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 poll, the overall trust in the Court in Ukraine is very low.[5]

Sources and references

  1. 1 2 Romanyuk elected chairman of Supreme Court of Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (18 May 2013)
  2. ↑ Petro Pylypchuk elected head of Supreme Court of Ukraine, Kyiv Post (23 December 2011)
  3. ↑ Ukraine’s Opposition Program Requires Another Revolution, The Jamestown Foundation (29 May 2012)
  4. ↑ Yanukovych signs law that broaden functions of Supreme Court, Kyiv Post (11 November 2011)
  5. ↑ Poll: Citizens have low level of confidence in CEC and Supreme Administrative Court, Kyiv Post (December 28, 2009)
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