The Handbook for Newly Appointed Judges was presented in Kyiv
On 15 June, EU Project Pravo-Justice, in collaboration with the National School of Judges of Ukraine, presented the Handbook for Newly Appointed Judges – a practical guide designed to support judges at the start of their professional careers and help them adapt confidently to their day-to-day work in court.
Appointment to the position of judge signifies not only a new stage in professional development, but also the assumption of a special public responsibility. The upholding of the rule of law and public trust in the judiciary depend on the quality of judges’ day-to-day work.
A particular impetus for producing this handbook was the experience of administering justice amidst armed aggression against Ukraine. In such circumstances, a judge must maintain not only professional rigour but also inner resilience, composure and a special sense of responsibility towards society, thereby ensuring the stability and continuity of justice.
The handbook systematises the key standards and practical guidelines for the day-to-day work of a newly appointed judge: ranging from European and international standards of judicial practice to issues of public service, professional ethics and integrity, the prevention of corruption, and procedures for hearing cases in the court of first instance. Particular attention was paid to working with the UJICS and the Unified State Register of Court Decisions, as well as to internal and external communication, and the gender and psychological aspects of judicial work.
During the event, the participants discussed professional guidelines for newly appointed judges, ethical standards, the organisation of work, the use of digital tools, and the importance of professional resilience in judicial career.
“This handbook is an important component of initial training and a practical resource for newly appointed judges in the complex environment of their professional activities. It is intended to serve as an indispensable guide that should be on every newly appointed judge’s desk. We are already seeing considerable interest in this publication from the judicial community and are grateful to our partners – the European Union and EU Project Pravo-Justice – for their support in its preparation,” said Mykola Onishchuk, Rector of the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
“For us, this Handbook forms part of a significant shift in the philosophy of judicial training. Whereas previously initial training took place before appointment to office, a newly appointed judge must now be practically ready to administer justice from the moment they take up their post, having received a short course of training at the National School of Judges of Ukraine. That is precisely why this Handbook cannot cover all the information a judge needs, but it serves as a practical compendium and guide – indicating which issues could need further research and where such information can be found,” said Olha Sribniak, Deputy Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice.
Olha Sribniak also emphasised that this is a book which does not necessarily need to be read from cover to cover, but which is worth returning to as a source of practical support.
“The publication is intended to provide practical support for newly appointed judges – to help them develop a confident and professionally balanced approach to their work, as well as to help strengthen public trust in the justice system through high-quality, independent and well-reasoned decisions,” she said.