The Council supported draft laws on the creation of a jury court in Ukraine

The Council adopted draft laws on the introduction of jury trials in Ukraine. Photo: chytomo.com

On Thursday, December 5, the Verkhovna Rada voted on the basis of draft laws №3843 and №3844 on the creation of a jury court in Ukraine.

According to Yaroslav Zhelezniak, People's Deputy from the «Voice» faction, 232 People's Deputies supported Law №3843 «On Jury Trial». Legislative initiative №3844 «On the judiciary and the status of judges» was supported by 237 parliamentarians.

Draft Law No. 3843 proposes to enshrine in a separate law that a jury trial is a way for citizens to directly participate in justice, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine. Such a court will consider criminal cases at the first stage of the trial. The document also prescribes requirements for a juror, his rights and duties, etc.

It is noted that the Constitution of Ukraine provides for the possibility of people's participation in the administration of justice through juries, but the principle of their work is still based on Soviet practice. Citizen jurors work alongside professional judges, which limits their independence in decision-making.

We will remind that in August, deputies of the Mykolaiv Regional Council approved the list of jurors of the Snihurivka District Court.