In New Uzbekistan, legal assistance available to every citizen has improved significantly.

In 2016, Uzbekistan had only 1,057 judges for a population of 32 million. Today, the population has grown to 39 million, and the number of judges has increased to 1,731.

This is the result of the systemic reforms being implemented in the sector. Bobomurod Eshquvvatov, a leading inspector of the Supreme Judicial Council, shared his thoughts on this matter:

– The number of judges has grown much faster than the population, meaning that judicial access per citizen has also improved significantly: the number of judges per 100,000 people has increased from 3.3 to 4.44.

In 2017, the unified Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan was established, and the former commercial courts were integrated into this unified system as "economic courts." As a result, a single judicial practice was formed, ensuring that laws are applied uniformly throughout the country.

Previously, there was no separate court to appeal an unlawful decision by a khokim, tax official, or cadastral agency—such cases were split between civil and commercial courts. This led to red tape and justifiable complaints from citizens. Simply put, a citizen was left virtually defenseless in a dispute with the state.

The most important achievement of the judicial reforms was the creation of a completely new structure specialized in hearing appeals against the decisions and actions of state bodies and officials: the Administrative Courts system.

The principle of the "active role of the court" was introduced into this system, ensuring equality in resolving disputes between a citizen and the state. Now, a citizen is not required to prove the state body's wrongdoing; on the contrary, the burden of proof (presumption) is placed on the state body itself. This means an official must prove in court that their decision or action was lawful and justified.

Previously, the authority to select and recommend candidates for judicial positions belonged to the Higher Qualification Commission under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose members were primarily drawn from the Presidential Administration, law enforcement agencies, and the executive branch.

Furthermore, the initial five-year term limit for judges was inconsistent with the international practices of developed nations.

This organizational dependence, combined with the limited role of the judicial community, created a sense of risk and apprehension among judges when making independent decisions that were lawful but contradicted the interests of local administrations or the prosecutor's office, which ultimately hindered the impartiality of the courts.

Today, in place of this commission, an independent constitutional body with the status of a legal entity—the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan—is in operation.

Establishing judicial terms of office for an initial five years, then ten years, and subsequently for an indefinite period, serves as a crucial guarantee for ensuring the immunity and independence of judges.

Such a system provides organizational protection for the judiciary, enabling them to make fair decisions based solely on the law, free from any external influence and without the risk of arbitrary dismissal from their posts.

In addition, any form of interference in a judge's administration of justice is strictly prohibited, and criminal liability for such actions has been strengthened.

Now, initiating criminal proceedings against or arresting a judge can only be done with the consent of the Supreme Judicial Council. This has become a vital guarantee protecting them from external pressure.

An Academy of Justice has been established under the Supreme Judicial Council, where every individual aspiring to become a judge must first undergo specialized training. Sample tests and exams are held openly and broadcast online, and special electronic systems that eliminate the human factor are used to evaluate candidates.

The results of these ten years of reforms are not just empty words; they are also evident in concrete figures. Notably, the monthly salary of judges has increased fourfold.

Overall, the courts of the New Uzbekistan are becoming a system that is financially independent, has a transparent personnel selection process, and is capable of defending citizens even against the state.

N. Abduraimova,

UzA