The Council of High-Qualified Judges of the Russian Federation reviewed a formal objection raised by the Council of Judges regarding disciplinary action against Inna Vorobyova, who currently leads the Arbitration Court of the Moscow Region. Following the objection, the council decided to terminate proceedings ahead of schedule. The update comes from a state judicial information service.
The matter of whether the head of the Moscow District Arbitration Court should face disciplinary responsibility was initially scheduled for discussion in March but was postponed to April 4 due to health concerns affecting the judge. This postponement underscores how health and procedural timelines can influence urgent disciplinary work within the judiciary, even at the highest levels of regional arbitration.
Earlier proceedings conducted by the disciplinary commission of the Council of Judges of Russia identified indicators of potential disciplinary offenses in the actions attributed to Vorobyova, prompting a formal inquiry and review. The commission’s findings then formed the basis for further assessment by higher bodies within the judiciary.
Commission I concluded that while Vorobyova was presiding over the Tenth Court of Appeal, there were notable lapses in supervision and in the equitable distribution of workload among judges. The report indicated that, over two years, one judge, Eduard Khomyakov, did not consistently perform the core duties associated with evaluating cases as the presiding speaker, a situation that raised questions about the fairness and efficiency of case management at that level.
Additionally, the commission noted several other concerns connected to Vorobyova’s tenure, including the allocation of incentives and the handling of a judge’s leave, with claims of unexplained or unjustified absences. The review also touched on procedures for registering travel by judges abroad, suggesting inconsistencies that may have affected the orderly operations of the court and the oversight of Khomyakov’s duties.
Vorobyova took the helm of the Arbitration Court of the Moscow Region in May of the preceding year, bringing to the post a long history of leadership at the Tenth Court of Appeals, where she held the presidency for over a decade prior to her current appointment. The events surrounding her management have therefore become a focal point in the ongoing assessment of governance, accountability, and performance standards within Russia’s arbitration system.