ON THE ISSUE OF EXTENDING THE GUARANTEES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JUDGES

УДК 343.162

DOI 10.37566/2707-6849-2023-4(45)-3

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Oleksiі MELNIK,

Member of the High Council of Justice

Volodymyr RYBALKO,

candidate of Law, chief specialist of the department for the exercise of powers on judicial independence of the department for supporting the activities of members of the High council of justice of the secretariat of the High council of justice

ON THE ISSUE OF EXTENDING THE GUARANTEES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JUDGES

         The author considers whether the guarantees of criminal procedure should be extended to judges during disciplinary proceedings. It is noted that the answer to this question has very specific consequences, as it depends on them: whether the disciplinary proceedings against judges under the Engel criteria are criminal proceedings; whether simultaneous and parallel consideration of disciplinary and criminal proceedings against a judge involving the same actions (or part of them) is possible; or whether disciplinary proceedings should be suspended until the criminal case is resolved; whether the materials of criminal proceedings can be used to decide whether a judge's actions constitute a disciplinary offense; whether the absence of a verdict finding a judge guilty of a criminal offense is an obstacle to bringing him or her to disciplinary responsibility; whether the principle of autonomy applies in disciplinary proceedings; whether disciplinary and criminal proceedings are interrelated; whether the disciplinary body has the right to bring a judge to disciplinary liability if the criminal proceedings were closed or resulted in an acquittal; whether the presumption of innocence and the right not to be prosecuted or punished twice apply to judges who are subject to both criminal and disciplinary proceedings for the same actions.

The authors analyze the controversial issues of disciplinary liability of judges. The author cites the results of a survey of 96 judicial assistants of all instances, which confirm that the issues of disciplinary liability of judges raised in the article remain controversial, despite the established legal position of the ECHR.

It is stated that, according to the ECHR case law, the guarantees of criminal procedure do not apply to judges in disciplinary proceedings. Disciplinary proceedings fall within the scope of the civil part of Article 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Key words:disciplinary liability of judges, Engel criteria, presumption of innocence, the right not to be prosecuted or punished twice.

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