Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initiated reforms in the judicial system by registering draft law No. 13302 in the Verkhovna Rada. This document provides for the creation of two new specialized administrative courts: the Specialized District Administrative Court and the Specialized Administrative Court of Appeal, which will have jurisdiction throughout Ukraine. Information about the legislative initiative is already available on the official parliament website.
The explanatory note to the draft law states that its development complied with the requirements of the Constitution and the law “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges’.” The main goal is to establish the legal foundations for the functioning of the new specialized courts.
According to the draft, both courts will be located in Kyiv, and their jurisdiction will cover the entire country. This aims to ensure the effective administration of administrative justice at the national level.
On February 26, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 12368-1, which regulates the creation and operation of these courts, replacing the liquidated Kyiv District Administrative Court (KDAC). On March 24, President Zelensky signed this law, marking an important step in judicial reform.
At the end of April, the High Council of Justice gave a positive opinion on the president’s draft law concerning the establishment of the Specialized District and Administrative Courts of Appeal.
It is worth noting that on December 13, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada decided to liquidate the Kyiv District Administrative Court, whose chairman, Pavlo Vovk, was subjected to personal sanctions by the United States. That same evening, President Zelensky signed the corresponding law, marking a significant milestone in the fight against corruption in the judicial system.
