Zelensky axes cognitive tests for judicial candidates

Source: website of the Verkhovna Rada

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has approved amendments to the Law “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” that regulates the qualification exam process for judicial candidates.  The law update has dropped  the IQ test requirement for candidates vying for positions in appellate courts and the High Anti-Corruption Court.

To be selected, they were earlier required to have  a 75% passing score in cognitive testing, but now it is substituted with evaluation procedures by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ). Candidates will also have the option to choose a specialization—such as administrative, commercial, or general—for their qualification exams.

Ongoing competition for positions in appellate courts and the HACC willl not require a test on the history of Ukrainian statehood with the exam covering topics like general legal knowledge, Ukrainian statehood history, and the specific specialization of the court.

The HQCJ will define the format of tests and assignments, with the syllabus and list of questions to be published at least 30 days before the exam.