Who and how will select judges for the two new specialized administrative courts? The Ministry of Justice has provided clarification.

The Expert Council and the High Qualification Commission of Judges will jointly determine the judges in the two new administrative courts. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Justice Oleksandr Banchuk. According to him, the Expert Council will consist of three representatives from the Council of Judges of Ukraine and three representatives from international partners. However, the decision regarding the selection of judges will remain with the High Qualification Commission.

According to the Law, a joint meeting of the High Qualification Commission and the Expert Council is planned if the latter believes that a certain candidate does not meet the integrity criteria or if the council cannot reach a consensus. This approach has already proven effective in forming the High Anti-Corruption Court, noted Oleksandr Banchuk.

In addition to the Expert Council and the High Qualification Commission, the High Judicial Council and the president may have significant influence, as they have the right to appoint and dismiss judges. According to preliminary data, the competitive selection of judges for the new administrative courts is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year. The process may take about nine months. The final decision will be made by the High Judicial Council and the president.

It should be noted that on February 26, 2025, a bill on the establishment of the Specialized District Administrative Court and the Specialized Appellate Administrative Court was adopted, which will replace the Kyiv District Administrative Court.