Merit-based recruitment in the prosecutor’s office system

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the interview as a stage in the selection and transfer of prosecutors to higher-level prosecution authorities in Ukraine. The aim is to identify mechanisms of subjectivity during the interview process. The research combines regulatory and legal analysis, comparative analysis of international practices, and empirical research through an expert survey (n=15). The findings indicate that the interview is the most vulnerable stage of prosecutor selection regarding subjective influence. A moderate correlation (r=0.62) was identified between subjectivity assessment and the significance of the first-impression factor, confirming the systemic impact of cognitive biases on candidate evaluation. The article substantiates the transition to a hybrid selection model combining standardized psychometric methods, automated testing, and situational tasks. Such tools, when properly validated, can reduce subjectivity, increase result reproducibility, and support more justified personnel decisions. The scientific novelty lies in integrating legal and psychological approaches, while practical significance concerns improving prosecution personnel policy and strengthening trust in the justice system.