Judicial branch of power

Justice in Ukraine is administered exclusively by the courts. The jurisdiction of the courts extends to all legal relations that arise in the State. Independence and immunity of judges are guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine.
The Supreme Court of Ukraine is the highest judicial body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court administers justice and ensures that the legislation is equally applied by the courts of general jurisdiction.
According to paragraph 27 of Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine the President of Ukraine grants pardons.

The Supreme Court of Ukraine is composed of judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine elected to office for permanent terms. Their number is defined by the President's Decree in accordance with the submission of the Supreme Council Chairman agreed with the Council of Judges of Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine heads the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine is elected by secret ballot for a five-year term at the Supreme Court's plenary meeting. One and the same person shall not the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine for more than two consecutive terms. All Deputy Chairmen are appointed to office at the Supreme Court's plenary meeting.

The post of Chairman of the Supreme Court of Ukraine is held by Vasyl Maliarenko.
To find out more about the activity of the Supreme Court of Ukraine see Chapter 8 Section II of the Law "On Judicial System".

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine is the only body of constitutional jurisdiction in Ukraine.

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine decides on the conformity of laws and other legal acts with the Constitution of Ukraine and provides official interpretation of the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine.

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine is composed of eighteen judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Congress of Judges of Ukraine each appoint six judges to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. A judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is appointed for nine years without the right of appointment for a second term.

The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is elected by secret ballot for one three-year term only at a special plenary meeting of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine from among the judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.

Since May 1998, the President of Ukraine as a subject of law for constitutional presentation on rulings of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine has been represented in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine by the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine whose actions are regulated by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of 25.05.1998 "On Regulations on the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine".

The Permanent Representative is appointed by the President of Ukraine.