Database of Legal Positions of the Supreme Court: an innovative tool for ensuring the unity of judicial practice
The Database of Legal Positions of the Supreme Court is an online resource developed by the Supreme Court in 2021 with the support of the EU Project “Pravo-Justice. The database was created to promote the unity of judicial practice, enhance legal certainty, and facilitate access to legal positions contained in the Supreme Court’s decisions.
This tool is designed to support transparency in the application of law, stability of judicial decisions, and the overall improvement of the quality of justice in Ukraine. The database was developed with the needs of legal practitioners in mind, incorporating modern IT solutions and elements of artificial intelligence.
Initially, the Database was available only to judges. However, due to ongoing technical improvements — including the integration of AI-based features — it has become accessible to a wide range of users. In addition to judges, the tool is particularly useful for lawyers, prosecutors, civil servants, notaries, academics, educators, and law students — anyone involved in legal research, document preparation, or legal education.
The Database is not merely a technical tool — it represents a step forward in enhancing the quality of legal reasoning, transparency of the judiciary, and public trust in the justice system. It contributes to the development in Ukraine of the jurisprudence constante doctrine, which ensures consistent and predictable interpretation of the law. This is critical not only for the national legal order, but also for Ukraine’s European integration.
Key advantages of the Database
Innovation — a modern tool that promotes the unity of judicial practice.
Artificial intelligence — use of AI-powered search and IT solutions significantly speeds up and simplifies the search process.
Relevance — allows for quick access to case law of the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Case assessment — helps users analyze current legal positions and evaluate the prospects of their case.
Time efficiency — instead of reviewing dozens of decisions in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions (USRCD), the user gets one unique legal position with links to related cases.
Clarity — brief summaries make it easy to grasp the core legal issue without reading the full decision.
Interactivity — intuitive interface that requires no special training to use.
Dynamic updates — the database is regularly expanded with new decisions and continuously improved technically.
How does the Database work?
The Database offers several complementary search mechanisms. Users can select the most convenient option based on the type of information they have:
1. Keyword search (free text)
Enter a word, phrase, or even a paragraph of legal text — for example, part of a claim or a citation from a legal norm. The system will return relevant legal positions.
2. Search by link to a decision from the USRCD
Paste a link to a decision published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions. The Database will analyze it and display related legal positions of the Supreme Court — ideal for assessing the prospects of appeal or cassation.
3. Search by uploaded document
Upload a file — such as a complaint or legal opinion. The system will convert the file into text and match it with relevant case law. If conversion fails, the user will receive an error message.
4. Search using the Legal Classifier
Select a jurisdiction (administrative, commercial, etc.) and a category or subcategory of case to retrieve legal positions organized by legal subject. A contextual search by category name is also available.
When and why to use the Database?
- When preparing legal positions in procedural documents;
- To assess the chances of successful appeal or cassation;
- For analyzing the stability of judicial practice;
- As a learning and research tool — especially for students and scholars;
- To verify whether lower court decisions align with the Supreme Court’s case law;
- To strengthen legal argumentation in court proceedings.
Important notes
- The Database is a test auxiliary tool and not an official source of judicial decisions.
- Titles and summaries only outline the legal issue — full decisions must be consulted for a complete understanding.
- The information is not exhaustive — the Database is regularly updated.
- Legal positions contained in the Database are not binding on the Supreme Court.
Access the Database of Legal Positions
The platform continues to evolve, and the Supreme Court invites users to provide feedback — on search functionality, accuracy of descriptions, or technical issues. This is a shared resource for the legal community, and user feedback is essential for its continuous improvement.
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This publication was prepared by the Ukrainian Bar Association within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice.” The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Ukrainian Bar Association and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.