The article provides a theoretical analysis of the implementation of the principle of equality before the law and the court as the main principle of justice. Next, the modern understanding of the principle of equality before the law and the court is studied. Finally, the inviolability of citizens and various officials to whom inviolability is granted for exercising their powers in terms of equality before the law and the court is analyzed.

The article reveals the main aspects of the independence of professional judges as a constitutional basis of their legal status. It is established that the main aspects of the independence of judges as the constitutional basis of their legal status in Ukraine are regulated by the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges», the Law of Ukraine «On the High Council of Justice», the Law of Ukraine «On Ensuring the Right to a Fair Court», the Law of Ukraine «On Restoring Confidence in the Judiciary in Ukraine», the Law of Ukraine «On Purification of Power». It is determined that the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the state and acts as a constitutional and legal basis for the functioning and activity of the judiciary. It was found that the independence of judges is a key element of the professional status of judges. It has been determined that a judge, in administering justice, must be independent of influence, pressure or interference from unlawful sources. It was noted that state authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as their officials and officials, individuals and legal entities, are obliged to respect the independence of judges, as well as not to encroach on it. It has been established that a judge in the context of administering justice is independent, therefore, taking measures to ensure the independence of judges is one of the main responsibilities of the High Council of Justice. It has been established that every year the number of violations by offenders on the independence of judges in the context of their administration of justice is increasing. It was determined that most often encroachment on the independence of judges in Ukraine occurs on the part of law enforcement agencies, people's deputies, deputies of local councils, other representatives of state authorities and local self-government bodies, lawyers, as well as in cases of violation of law and order in a court session, disruption of court hearings, blocking courts, making various threats to judges, committing physical pressure on judges or members of their families, damaging their property, as well as the property of courts, disseminating inaccurate information in relation to judges. It was found that the low level of guarantees for the independence of judges has an indirect effect on reducing the possibilities of exercising the right to exercise judicial protection. It is noted that the prospects for further research in this direction are the study of the legal foundations of the procedure for the selection and appointment of professional judges in the context of constitutional and legal requirements for candidates.

It is researched definition of the concepts «principles of judicial proceedings» and «fundamentals of judicial proceedings». It is analysed the legislative consolidation of the concepts being researched. Features of the concepts «fundamental» and «principle» are considered. It is made a distinction between these concepts. There are highlighted sectoral subsystems of the system of principles of judicial proceedings. There are outlined main provisions of the theories of natural and positive law. The authors has proved that identification of the terms fundamental and principle is impossible because they are different in their essence and sphere of regulation. It is concluded that the fundamentals of justice should be considered in terms of natural law as a basis that is enshrined in the basic law and determines the rule- making activities in the field of justice and administration of justice and determines the basic methods and forms of court activity. The principles must be considered as a positive law, which is specified and enshrined in certain procedural legislation and determines the specific form of activity of the participants in the proceedings.

The article reveals the essential characteristics of the concept of «constitutional and legal status of professional judges", based on doctrinal approaches to its consideration. It is established that the legal basis of the constitutional and legal status of judges is regulated by the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges», the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct. It is determined that the constitutional and legal status of professional judges is revealed as the formation of understanding and perception of the essence of such status, based on the foundations of constitutional and legal science. It was found that the main structural elements of the constitutional and legal status of professional judges are: 1) legal personality as a special and at the same time qualitative feature of a judge, as a subject authorized to exercise the function of justice; 2) the grounds for bringing a judge to legal responsibility; 3) the rights and duties of a judge, which are regulated by the provisions of Article 56 of the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges»; 4) oath, according to which a person appointed to the position of a judge guarantees compliance with the basic principles of legal conduct, which must be followed by a professional judge not only in judicial but also in extrajudicial activities and regulated by Article 57 of the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges»; 5) requirements for the position of a judge, which are regulated by the provisions of Article 127 of the Constitution of Ukraine and the provisions of Article 69 of the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges» to judges of courts of general jurisdiction, for example, to judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, then the provisions of Article 148 of the Constitution of Ukraine; 7) constitutional and legal guarantees, which are enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges» and the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct. It is noted that the prospects for further research in this area are the study of the legal basis for the independence of professional judges as one of the constitutional principles of their legal status.

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