Consistent modernization of the judicial system is one of the key directions of state reforms in Kazakhstan. Its goal is not only to improve legislation and introduce digital technologies, but above all to strengthen public trust in the courts. Public confidence is the primary indicator of the effectiveness of the judicial branch, and its foundation lies in the professionalism, independence, and impeccable reputation of judges.

Speaking at the IX Congress of Judges of the Republic of Kazakhstan on October 4, 2024, the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized that a fair court serves as a solid pillar of the state, and that the judicial system must be authoritative and impartial. The President noted the special role of the Supreme Judicial Council as a guarantor of forming an independent and professional judiciary, pointing out the need for a responsible approach to the selection of judicial specialists and the enhancement of their qualifications.

These guidelines define the strategic priorities of the Council's activities. Their implementation is impossible without a modern system of training and professional development for the judiciary.

Today, professional development is viewed as a continuous process of a judge's professional growth. Its purpose is to timely update knowledge in the face of constantly evolving legislation and judicial practice, improve practical skills, and develop the professional and ethical competencies necessary for rendering lawful, well-reasoned, and fair judicial decisions. Such a system promotes uniform application of legislation, strengthens judicial independence, and enhances public trust in the courts.

This is precisely why the development of a modern system of judicial education, including professional development for judges and court staff, has become one of the key areas of the Supreme Judicial Council's activity.

An important milestone in this work was the transfer of the Academy of Justice under the Council's purview in 2024, which made it possible to strengthen efforts in training and professional development of judicial personnel.

A logical continuation was the approval of the Concept for the Development of the Academy of Justice for 2025–2027. This document goes far beyond the framework of an educational institution's development program.

It defines new approaches to the implementation of the Supreme Judicial Council's personnel policy. For the first time, the development of judicial education is viewed as a unified, continuous system of professional support for a judge at all stages of their career – from the formation of a personnel reserve to the ongoing enhancement of competencies for sitting judges and court chairpersons.

The Concept has brought together all subsequent transformations in the field of judicial education. Individualized professional development programs, the referendariat institute, retraining for court chairpersons, and the expansion of continuing education have become interconnected elements of a unified strategy for building a modern judiciary.

This approach is consistent with best international practices. In France, the National School of the Judiciary supports a judge's professional development throughout their entire career, regularly updating educational programs in line with changes in legislation and judicial practice. In the Netherlands, training is built on individual educational trajectories that take into account judges' specialization and professional needs. Singapore's Judicial College views continuing education as a mandatory component of the judicial profession, placing special emphasis not only on legal matters but also on judicial ethics, leadership, court administration, and the use of modern technologies.

Similar approaches are reflected in the recommendations of international judicial governance institutions, which regard continuous learning as one of the most important guarantees of the quality of justice. Kazakhstan is consistently implementing these principles, adapting them to its national legal system.

Modern justice imposes significantly higher demands on judges than even a decade ago. Legislation is constantly being updated, new legal institutions are emerging, the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence is expanding, and the influence of international human rights standards is growing. At the same time, society expects high-quality judicial decisions, uniformity of judicial practice, compelling reasoning, and transparency of the judicial system.

In these circumstances, a judge's professionalism requires constant improvement. That is why the Supreme Judicial Council views judicial education not as periodic training, but as systematic professional development that accompanies a judge throughout their entire career.

The practical implementation of this model began with the reform of the continuing professional education system.

One of the first steps was the introduction of individualized professional development programs. In 2025, for the first time, a sequential transition was launched from classical "generic" programs to individualized professional development programs for judges. The new approach provides for the formation of course curricula based on judges' needs for studying specific topics, as well as the involvement of highly qualified specialized lecturers.

The implementation of this objective has made it possible to clearly orient training toward filling individual gaps in each judge's knowledge and, consequently, to ensure a qualitatively new level of course organization. In the future, the plan is to maintain the course toward strengthening the individualization of judicial training.

Another important area was the relaunch in 2025, in a new format, of retraining programs for chairpersons of district and equivalent courts.

A modern court chairperson is not only an experienced judge but also a manager responsible for organizing court operations, ensuring the effectiveness of the team, and fostering a professional environment. Global practice shows that the successful functioning of the judicial system largely depends on the quality of judicial management. Therefore, training programs for court leaders include issues of strategic management, leadership, change management, effective communications, and digital transformation.

These approaches have also been implemented for the first time at the Academy of Justice. The new retraining programs are aimed at developing the managerial competencies of court chairpersons, enabling them to effectively organize the work of judicial teams and create conditions in which judges can focus on their primary mission – delivering fair justice.

In 2025, the Academy of Justice launched for the first time the referendariat institute – a new training program for potential judicial candidates, aimed at building the personnel reserve of the judicial system. The referendariat courses are designed to prepare candidates for the qualifying examination for the position of judge.

The program covers the main branches of law and forms of judicial procedure: civil, criminal, administrative, and administrative-tort proceedings. During the training, participants analyze current judicial practice, examine real legal situations, and develop legal analysis skills. The program gains particular value from the participation in the educational process of judges from the Supreme Court and local courts, members of the Supreme Judicial Council, faculty of the Academy of Justice, leading scholars, and practicing lawyers. This format ensures the continuity of professional experience and allows future candidates to directly assimilate the best standards of judicial activity.

An equally important area has been the expansion of continuing education programs for members of the legal community.

The Supreme Judicial Council proceeds from the understanding that the quality of justice largely depends on the overall level of professional culture of all participants in judicial proceedings. Therefore, the Academy of Justice has significantly expanded the range of educational programs for advocates, legal consultants, corporate lawyers, and other members of the legal community. This format promotes professional dialogue and more uniform application of legislation.

All projects implemented at the Academy of Justice are interconnected elements of a unified strategy for the development of judicial education. The Supreme Judicial Council, fulfilling the tasks assigned to it by the Constitution and laws for the formation of a professional judiciary, determines the strategic directions for the development of judicial education as a crucial element of the state personnel policy for the judicial system.

The primary goal of all ongoing reforms is the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens. This is precisely why investment in the professional development of judges is investment in the quality of justice, public trust in the judicial branch, and the strengthening of the rule of law. Trust in the courts remains one of the most important indicators of the maturity of a rule-of-law state and a necessary condition for the further construction of a Just Kazakhstan.

Dmitry MALAKHOV,
Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council
of the Republic of Kazakhstan