In March 2025, the overall progress score in this area declined compared to February, dropping from 0.63 to 0.45 points. It can be argued that the judiciary reform is continuing on inertia alone. No key EU-related legislative acts were adopted during the month, partly due to the lack of clear positions or demands from the EU side.

The main threat in March stemmed from searches and criminal investigations initiated by the State Bureau of Investigation against members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ). This move appears to be aimed at derailing the vetting of dishonest judges from the now-liquidated Kyiv District Administrative Court (KDAC) and the Pechersk District Court.

Using law enforcement pressure, old judicial elites are attempting to paralyze the HQCJ — an institution whose reform was one of the seven conditions set by the European Commission for opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine.

In March, the President signed draft law No. 12368-1, which provides for the creation of two new administrative courts to replace the dissolved KDAC. Although this measure is part of the IMF’s structural benchmarks and an EU recommendation, the law has serious flaws. International experts are not granted a decisive vote in the selection of judges, and the new courts will not have jurisdiction to review decisions made by the HQCJ or the High Council of Justice (HCJ), among other shortcomings.

Meanwhile, the priority reform of the Supreme Court remains stalled, even as the court continues issuing rulings that undermine judicial reform.