Formation of the Prosecution corps in Ukraine: current trends
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35774/app2023.02.071Keywords:
Public Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutor’s corps, selection and training of prosecutors, internship, trainee prosecutorAbstract
The article highlights the current trends in the formation of the prosecutor’s corps in Ukraine, caused by changes in the legislation on the selection and training of prosecutors. It has been established that one of the modern trends in the formation of the prosecutor's corps in Ukraine is the simplification of the procedure for the selection and training of prosecutors to ensure the opportunity for a Law-school graduates to apply for the position of prosecutor. The questionable persuasiveness of this argument was noted, given the lack of such an opportunity for the positions of judges, lawyers, notaries, which is justified, considering the specifics of legal professions.
The advantages of such changes are highlighted, as well as potential risks of successfully achieving the goal of improving the selection and training of prosecutors under the new legislation are noted. Among the advantages is the reduction of the selection period, which creates conditions for faster filling of vacant positions of prosecutors. Among the risks of successfully achieving the goal of improving the selection and training of prosecutors under the new legislation are the questionable expediency of involving trainee prosecutors into the group of prosecutors, as well as the absence of a legislatively established obligation of the internship supervisor to coordinate the trainee prosecutor’s decision regarding the procedural guidance of the pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings.
The ways to avoid such risks are suggested. In particular, to consider the working time costs of the intership superviser in carrying out the duty of approving decisions of the trainee-prosecutors as a separate component of such workload in the process of developing the procedure for measuring and regulating the workload on prosecutors, as well as establishing the trainee-prosecutor’s right to give formal feedback on the effecttiveness of the inernship superviser’s activities, which could be considered during the periodic evaluation of their work.
References
Opinion No.12 (2009) of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) and Opinion No.4 (2009) of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) to the attention of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe «On the relations between Judges and Prosecutors in a democratic society». Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/16804504e7 [in English]
Pro vnesennia zmin do deiakykh zakoniv Ukrainy shchodo udoskonalennia doboru ta pidhotovky prokuroriv: Zakon Ukrainy vid 14 kvitnia 2022 r. № 2203-IX [On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Improvement of Selection and Training of Prosecutors: Law of Ukraine dated April 14, 2022 No 2203-IX]. Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2203-20-n8 [in Ukrainian]
Pro vnesennia zmin do deiakykh zakonodavchykh aktiv Ukrainy shchodo pershocherhovykh zakhodiv iz reformy orhaniv prokuratury: Zakon Ukrainy vid 19 veresnia 2019 r. № 113-IX [On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on priority measures for the reform of the Public Prosecutor’s Office: Law of Ukraine dated September 19, 2019 No 113-IX]. Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/113-20#Text [in Ukrainian]
Pro yurydychnu (pravnychu) osvitu i zahalnyi dostup do pravnychoi profesii: Proekt Zakonu Ukrainy vid 28 veresnia 2017 r. No 7147 [On the legal (lawyer) education and general access to the legal profession: draft Law of Ukraine dated September 28, 2017 No 7147]. Retrieved from https://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=62613 [in Ukrainian]
Opinion No. 13(2018) of the CCPE: Independence, accountability, and ethics of prosecutors. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/opinion-13-ccpe-2018-2e-independence-accountability-and-ethics-of-pros/1680907e9d [in English]
Opinion No.12 (2009) of the CCJE and Opinion No. 4 (2009) on the relations between Judges and Prosecutors in a democratic society (Bordeaux Declaration). Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/ [in English]
Ekspertna otsinka proiektu Zakonu № 5158 «Pro vnesennia zmin do deiakykh zakoniv Ukrainy shchodo udoskonalennia doboru ta pidhotovky prokuroriv» i proiektu Zakonu № 5157 «Pro vnesennia zmin do rozdilu II «Prykintsevi i perekhidni polozhennia» Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro vnesennia zmin do deiakykh zakonodavchykh aktiv Ukrainy shchodo pershocherhovykh zakhodiv iz reformy orhaniv prokuratury» shchodo okremykh aspektiv dii perekhidnykh polozhen» [Expert assessment of draft Law No. 5158 «On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Improvement of Selection and Training of Prosecutors» and Draft Law No. 5157 «On Amendments to Section II «Final and Transitional Provisions» of the Law of Ukraine «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on priority measures for the reform of the Public Prosecutor’s Office» regarding certain aspects of the transitional provisions]. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/ukr-coe-expert-comments-dl5157-5158-completed/1680a2c917 [in Ukrainian]
Podkopaiev, C. V. (2022). Prokurory-stazhysty: osoblyvosti pravovoho statusu [Trainee prosecutors: legal status features]. Naukovyi prostir: aktualni pytannia, dosiahnennia ta innovatsii: materialy III Mizhnar. nauk. konf. – Scientific space: current issues, achievements and innovations: materials of the III International Scientific Conference. Vinnytsia: European Scientific Platform, 229-231 [in Ukrainian]
Stefanchuk, M. (2021). Kadrovyi sklad prokuratury v Ukraini: v poshukakh optymalnykh shliakhiv formuvannia [The staff of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine: in search of optimal ways of formation]. Naukovyi visnyk UzhNU. Seriia «Pravo» - Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law, 68, 246-252 [in Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.24144/2307-3322.2021.68.43
Pravovyi komitet VR prahne zminyty protseduru doboru suddiv – deputat [The Legal Committee of the Verkhovna Rada seeks to change the procedure for selecting judges - a deputy]. Retrieved from https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3688464-pravovij-komitet-vr-pragne-zminiti-proceduru-doboru-suddiv-deputat.html [in Ukrainian]
Informatsiia pro kilkist vakantnykh tatymchasovo vakantnykh posad prokuroriv v orhanakh prokuraturyUkrainy (krim administratyvnykh) stanom na 31 travnia 2023 roku [Information on the number of vacant and temporarily vacant positions of prosecutors in the prosecutor's office of Ukraine (except for administrative ones) as of May 31, 2023]. Retrieved from https://kdkp.gov.ua/news/declaration/375 [in Ukrainian]
Lapkin, A. V. (2020). Prokuror u kryminalnomu provadzhenni: teoretychni, pravovi ta orhanizatsiino-metodychni problemy [The prosecutor in criminal proceedings: theoretical, legal, organizational, and methodical problems]. Kharkiv: Pravo [in Ukrainian]
Pro orhanizatsiiu diialnosti prokuroriv u kryminalnomu provadzhenni: nakaz Heneralnoho prokurora vid 30 veresnia 2021 r. № 309 [On the organization of activities of prosecutors in criminal proceedings: Order of the Prosecutor General dated of September 30, 2021 No. 309]. Retrieved from https://gp.gov.ua/ua/posts/nakazi-generalnogo-prokurora-z-osnovnih-napryamiv-prokurorskoyi-diyalnosti [in Ukrainian]
Postanova Velykoi Palaty Verkhovnoho Sudu vid 27 lystopada 2019 r. u spravi № 629/847/15-k. [Resolution of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court dated of November 27, 2019 in case № 629/847/15-с]. Retrieved from https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/86105184 [in Ukrainian]
