The rule of law is a fundamental principle forming the basis of a democratic rule-of-law state and underlying the operation of the judiciary within its framework. The rule of law as a social and natural phenomenon, as a cornerstone principle of Ukraine’s legal and political systems, as a cornerstone principle of the judiciary and as a legal category draws proactive attention of legal professionals. However, recent changes to the laws of procedure of Ukraine, the start of operation of the new Supreme Court and the set up of the latest law enforcement practice significantly changes the approaches to the interpretation of the rule of law principle and the specifics of its application, in particular, in civil proceedings. The purpose of the article is to determine the specific features pertaining to the implementation of the rule of law principle in civil proceedings in the context of the reformation of justice. The article demonstrates that the establishment of the rule of law and the operation of a rule-of-law state are possible where society consistently and uninterruptedly implements such requirements as respect for human rights and freedoms, the rule of the Constitution, the principle of separation of powers, legality, restriction of discretionary powers, the principle of legal certainty, and independence of courts and judges. It is established that the rule of law is the keystone (the fundamental principle) of civil proceedings, and applying it, a court of law ensures a fair, impartial and timely trial and resolution of civil cases with the aim of efficient protection of infringed, unrecognized or disputed rights, freedoms or interests of individuals, rights and interests of legal entities, and interests of the State. There is no universal definition of the rule of law; however, its interpretation is given by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the European Court of Human Rights. The article proves that the generally recognized fundamental elements of the rule of law are as follows: (1) legality; (2) legal certainty; (3) prohibition of arbitrariness; (4) access to justice before independent and impartial courts; (5) respect for human rights; (6) nondiscrimination and equality before the law. It is these characteristics of the rule of law that should be taken into account by a court of law while administering justice in civil proceedings.

List of legal documents 
 

Legislation 
1. Cyvilnyi procesualnyi kodeks Ukrainy [The Code of Civil Procedure of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrainy [the Law of Ukraine] vid 18 bereznia 2004 r. № 1618-IV. Vidomosti Verkhovnoii Rady Ukrainy. 2004. № 40–41, 42. St. 492 (in Ukrainian). 
2. Konstytusiia Ukrainy [The Constitution of Ukraine]: Zakon Ukrainy [the Law of Ukraine] vid 28 chervnia1996 r. № 254k/96-VR.Vidomosti Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy. 
1996. № 30. St. 141 (in Ukrainian). 
3. Pro vnesennіa zmin do Hospodarskoho procesualnoho kodeksu Ukrainy, Cyvilnoho procesualnoho kodeksu Ukrainy, Kodeksu administratyvnoho sudochynstva Ukrainy ta inshykh zakonodavchykh aktiv [On Amending the Code of Economic Procedure of Ukraine, the Code of Civil Procedure of Ukraine, the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine and other Pieces of Legislation]: Zakon Ukrainy [the Law of Ukraine] vid 3 zhovtnia 2017 r. № 2147-VIII. Vidomosti Verkhovnoji Rady Ukrainy. 2017. № 48. St. 436 (in Ukrainian). 
4. Pro sudoustrii i status suddiv [On the Judicial System and the Status of Judges]: Zakon Ukrainy [the Law of Ukraine] vid 2 chervnia 2016 r. № 1402-VIII. Vidomosti Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy. 2016. № 31. St. 545 (in Ukrainian). 

Cases

5. Rishennia Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy vid 2 lystopada 2004 r. № 15-rp/2004 za konstytutsiinym podanniam Verkhovnoho Sudu Ukrainy shchodo vidpovidnosti Konstytutsii Ukrainy (konstytutsiinosti) polozhen statti 69 Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy (u spravi pro pryznachennia sudom bilsh miakoho pokarannia) [Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Dated November 2, 2004 № 15-rp/2004 in the Case Following the Constitutional Petition of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Concerning the Compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine (Constitutionality) of the Provisions of Article 69 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (in the Case of Sentence Mitigation by Court)] (sprava [Case] № 1-33/2004). URL: http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/ v015p710-04 (accessed: 11.02.2018) (in Ukrainian).

6. Ukhvala apeliatsiinoho sudu Mykolaivskoi oblasti [Ruling of the Court of Appeal in Mykolaiv region] vid 31 sichnia 2018 r. № 71926314 u sudovii spravi [in a Court Case] № 487/2199/17. URL: http://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/71926314 (accessed: 17.02.2018) (in Ukrainian).

7. Ukhvala Velykoii Palaty Verkhovnoho Sudu [Ruling of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court] vid 29 sichnia 2018 r. № 71897500 u sudovii spravi [in a Court Case] № 357/3258/16-ц. URL: http://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/71897500 (accessed: 17.02.2018) (in Ukrainian).

8. Ukhvala Verkhovnoho Sudu [Ruling of the Supreme Court] vid 23 sichnia 2018 r. № 71826027 u sudovii spravi [in a Court Case] № 572/1762/15-ц. URL: http://reyestr. court.gov.ua/Review/71826027 (accessed: 17.02.2018) (in Ukrainian).

Bibliography

Journal articles

9. Holovati S, ‘Triada yevropeiskykh tsinnostei – verkhovenstvo prava, demokratiia, prava liudyny – yak osnova ukrainskoho konstytutsiinoho ladu’ [‘The European Values Triad – Rule of Law, Democracy, Human Rights – as the Basis of the Ukrainian Constitutional System’] (2011) 5 Pravo Ukrainy 159 (in Ukrainian).

10. Horodovenko V, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava yak fundamentalnyi pryntsyp sudovoi vlady’ [‘The Rule of Law as the Fundamental Principle of the Judiciary’] [2012] 14(1) Chasopys Akademii advokatury Ukrainy 1 <http://e-pub.aau.edu.ua/index.php/chasopys/article/ view/357/378> accessed 11 February 2018 (in Ukrainian).

11. Koziubra M, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava: ukrainski realii ta perspektyvy’ [‘The Rule of Law: Ukrainian Realities and Prospects’] (2010) 3 Pravo Ukrainy 6 (in Ukrainian).

12. – –, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava i Ukraina’ [‘The Rule of Law and Ukraine’] (2012) 1-2 Pravo Ukrainy 30 (in Ukrainian).

13. Petryshyn O, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava v systemi dii prava’ [‘The Rule of Law in the Domain of Law’] (2009) 100 Problemy zakonnosti 18 (in Ukrainian).

14. Rabinovych P, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava v interpretatsii Strasburzkoho Sudu ta Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy’ [‘The Rule of Law in the Interpretation of the Strasbourg Court and the Constitutional Court of Ukraine’] (2006) 1 Visnyk Konstytutsiinoho Sudu Ukrainy 37 (in Ukrainian).

15. – –, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava z pozytsii yevropeisko-mizhnarodnoho ta ukrainskokonstytutsiinoho sudochynstva’ [‘The Rule of Law from the Perspective of the European International and Ukrainian Constitutional Court Procedure’] (2006) 3 Biuleten Ministerstva yustytsii Ukrainy 11 (in Ukrainian).

16. – –, ‘Verkhovenstvo prava: doktrynalni interpretatsii v Ukraini’ [‘The Rule of Law: Doctrinal Interpretations in Ukraine’] (2013) 9 Pravo Ukrainy 166 (in Ukrainian).

17. Shevchuk S, ‘Pryntsyp verkhovenstva prava ta naivyshcha yurydychna syla Konstytutsii Ukrainy’ [‘The Rule of Law Principle and the Supreme Legal Force of the Constitution of Ukraine’] (2011) 5 Pravo Ukrainy 175 (in Ukrainian).

18. – –, ‘Zabezpechennia yednosti sudovoi praktyky v umovakh isnuvannia spetsializovanoi yurysdyktsii’ [‘Ensuring the Court Practice Consistency in the Context of Specialized Jurisdiction’] (2013) 9 Pravo Ukrainy 306 (in Ukrainian).

Websites

19. CDL-AD(2016)007-e Rule of Law Checklist: adopted by the Venice Commission at its 106 plenary session (Venice, 11–12 March 2016) (Council of Europe) <http://www. venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2016)007-e> accessed 11 February 2018 (in English).