INDEPENDENCE OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGES AS A CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS FOR THEIR LEGAL STATUS

The article reveals the main aspects of the independence of professional judges as a constitutional basis of their legal status. It is established that the main aspects of the independence of judges as the constitutional basis of their legal status in Ukraine are regulated by the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges», the Law of Ukraine «On the High Council of Justice», the Law of Ukraine «On Ensuring the Right to a Fair Court», the Law of Ukraine «On Restoring Confidence in the Judiciary in Ukraine», the Law of Ukraine «On Purification of Power». It is determined that the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the state and acts as a constitutional and legal basis for the functioning and activity of the judiciary. It was found that the independence of judges is a key element of the professional status of judges. It has been determined that a judge, in administering justice, must be independent of influence, pressure or interference from unlawful sources. It was noted that state authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as their officials and officials, individuals and legal entities, are obliged to respect the independence of judges, as well as not to encroach on it. It has been established that a judge in the context of administering justice is independent, therefore, taking measures to ensure the independence of judges is one of the main responsibilities of the High Council of Justice. It has been established that every year the number of violations by offenders on the independence of judges in the context of their administration of justice is increasing. It was determined that most often encroachment on the independence of judges in Ukraine occurs on the part of law enforcement agencies, people's deputies, deputies of local councils, other representatives of state authorities and local self-government bodies, lawyers, as well as in cases of violation of law and order in a court session, disruption of court hearings, blocking courts, making various threats to judges, committing physical pressure on judges or members of their families, damaging their property, as well as the property of courts, disseminating inaccurate information in relation to judges. It was found that the low level of guarantees for the independence of judges has an indirect effect on reducing the possibilities of exercising the right to exercise judicial protection. It is noted that the prospects for further research in this direction are the study of the legal foundations of the procedure for the selection and appointment of professional judges in the context of constitutional and legal requirements for candidates.