Uzbekistan has adopted a presidential decree aimed at strengthening judicial independence and improving the work of judicial community bodies, in line with the national goals outlined in the Uzbekistan–2030 strategy.
The decree introduces several changes designed to enhance transparency, professionalism, and gender equality within the judiciary.
Under the new measures, the principle of self-governance for judges and international standards on judicial independence will be incorporated into the activities of judicial community institutions. The appointment of judges will follow a revised procedure, with candidates first appointed for a five-year term before transitioning to an indefinite tenure.
A merit-based system for selecting court chairpersons and their deputies through open competition will also be established. Additionally, key criteria for evaluating judges including honesty, professional competence, and adherence to ethical norms, will now be formalized at the legislative level.
The role of the judicial community in shaping the Council of Judges and the Supreme Court will be expanded. Permanent members of the Council will be selected from judges serving in the Supreme Court, regional courts, and district-level courts.
The decree also introduces a legislative framework for submitting assessments of candidates for judicial positions by the Judicial Qualification Boards and the Higher Judicial Qualification Board. The previous practice of holding joint meetings between these two bodies will be discontinued.
The Chairman of the Council is granted new authority to request reconsideration of disciplinary cases and independently manage the Council’s structure and staffing. To support expanded responsibilities, the Council will receive four additional staff positions, bringing its total to 32.
Beginning December 15, 2025, information on vacant judicial positions and details of candidate selection processes will be publicly available on the Council’s official website. The selection and evaluation of candidates will be digitized, with artificial intelligence introduced to support the process.
As part of efforts to promote gender equality in the judiciary, the decree introduces a quota for women applying to the Judicial Academy. The proposal to establish an Association of Women Judges has also been endorsed.
The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Judges is tasked with ensuring the implementation of the decree, with oversight provided by the Presidential Administration.
