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Dependent independence of the judicial system: practical determinants and ways to overcome them

Slovo of the National School of Judges of Ukraine. №1(54) 2026. P. 6-16

ISSN: 2707-6849    

UDC342.56:342.3

DOI https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-1 

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Tetiana BABKOVA,

Candidate of Legal Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of International and European Law, Faculty of Law,

Western Ukrainian National  University, Retired Judge,

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6678-3515

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Iryna TESLENKO,

Doctor of Philosophy in Law, Judge of the Solomyanskyi District Court of Kyiv,

ORCID ID: 0009-0007-2622-0289
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2622-0289

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Dependent independence of the judicial system: practical determinants and ways to overcome them

Abstract 

The purpose of the article is to identify ways and options for discussion to find more effective mechanisms for ensuring the independence of the judicial system, highlighting vulnerable points in ensuring the independence of the judicial system during the practical activities of judges and their interaction with parties to cases and other branches of government in Ukraine.

To achieve this goal, a number of tasks were set during the research process: the legislative consolidation of guarantees ensuring the independence of the judiciary at the national level and in a number of international legal acts was identified, and attention was focused on the importance of understanding the concept of independence of the judicial system as an integral part of the principle of the rule of law. The authenticity and effectiveness of the mechanisms introduced to ensure independence were analysed. integral element of the principle of the rule of law, analysed the authenticity and effectiveness of the mechanisms introduced to ensure the independence of the judicial system and discussed some vulnerable aspects of this mechanism, in particular in terms of the distribution of the workload among judges throughout Ukraine, the existence of hidden forms of influence on judges through the use of disciplinary complaints, statements to law enforcement agencies, and the publication of negative information about judges in the media.

The practical significance of the study lies in improving the mechanisms for securing guarantees of the independence of the judiciary and its interaction with other branches of government in order to promote the strengthening of the rule of law, increase the level of democracy and protect the rights of citizens in Ukraine.

Keywords: judicial system, rule of law, supremacy of law, participants in the process, guarantees of independence, reports of interference, disciplinary complaints, abuse, trust, respect, negative information, media, manipulation of public opinion.

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SuggestedCitation: Babkova, Т., Teslenko, І. (2026). Dependent independence of the judicial system: practical determinants and ways to overcome them. Slovo National School of Judges of Ukraine, 1 (54), 6–16. https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-1

 

Date of first submission of the article to the publication: 08.03.2026

Date of acceptance of the article for publication after review: 13.04.2026

Date of publication (publication): 22.04.2026