MAIN APPROACHES TO THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE JUDICIARY AND THE PUBLIC

Abstract

This article examines the legal foundations and contemporary
mechanisms of interaction between the judiciary and the public in the context of ensuring
the openness of justice, strengthening public trust in the judicial system, and promoting
the democratic principles of public administration. The relevance of the study is
substantiated by the growing importance of judicial transparency as one of the
fundamental principles governing the functioning of the judiciary and by the need to
balance the openness of judicial activities with guarantees of judicial independence. The
article analyzes scholarly approaches to understanding the interaction between the
judiciary and civil society and identifies the principal directions of academic research on
this issue. Particular attention is devoted to international legal standards enshrined in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms, which establish the fundamental requirements for open justice,
fair trial, and access to justice. The study explores the peculiarities of the legal regulation
governing interaction between the judiciary and the public in Ukraine based on the
provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Laws of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the
Status of Judges», «On Access to Public Information», «On Information» and the Code
of Judicial Ethics. It is established that judicial transparency encompasses the openness
of judicial proceedings, the accessibility and clarity of information, an effective
information policy, the use of modern digital services, the development of e-justice, and
the maintenance of continuous communication between courts and the public. The article
demonstrates that the effectiveness of such interaction depends on an appropriate legal
framework, adherence to judicial ethics, the development of public oversight
mechanisms, the level of legal culture among citizens, and the efficiency of information
and communication activities carried out by judicial institutions. The necessity of
maintaining a balance between the openness of the judiciary, the implementation of
mechanisms for public participation, and guarantees of judicial independence is
substantiated, thereby preventing any unlawful interference with the administration of
justice. It is concluded that continuous interaction between the judiciary and the public,
based on the principles of transparency, legality, accountability, partnership, and open
communication, constitutes an essential prerequisite for enhancing the legitimacy of
judicial decisions, strengthening public confidence in the administration of justice, and
improving public administration mechanisms in Ukraine.

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