General principles of organization and activityof judges in Ukraine

Abstract

In the conditions of active development and improvement of the system of public administration in the world, the role of public service as a defining feature of a democratic and legal state is strengthening. Since the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union by Ukraine, it has become necessary to introduce and enshrine in national legislation such an institution as a public service. This became a lever that launched the process of reforming the government system in the country and determined the right vector for the development of public service in Ukraine. Given the current indicators of public confidence in the judiciary, it can be argued that the institution of public service in the judiciary is purely formal, and therefore this issue is relevant and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. In view of this, we believe that the introduction of the new Concept, which will consolidate the legal status of a judge as a public servant of a court of general jurisdiction, will be the beginning of the real functioning of a judge of a court of general jurisdiction on the basis of public administration. The study revealed the general principles of organization and activity of judges of general jurisdiction courts in Ukraine. The legal status of judges is outlined and the key features of such status are identified. The existence of the “judge-public servant” model is substantiated. The study emphasizes that judges of courts of general jurisdiction directly implement the basic functions of justice, and the level of their legal status depends on the authority of the judiciary and the efficiency of justice in Ukraine. Courts of general jurisdiction are the main link of specialized courts for civil, administrative and criminal cases and are the closest to the population, and therefore, a clear definition of their legal status is now essential. It is suggested that under the public service in the judiciary of Ukraine, first of all, one should see politically neutral, professional activity of a judge in courts, judicial authorities and other state bodies of the justice system and institutions for organizing and ensuring the activities of courts and judges.