Ukraine's corrupt judges targeted in constitutional reforms

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses deputies before voting for changes to the constitution required for judicial reform at the parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, June 2, 2016. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament approved on Thursday judicial reforms that Western backers say are needed to fight corruption, in the first constitutional vote the ruling coalition has pushed through since an overhaul of the government in April.

Bribery in the court system is seen as a major obstacle to Ukraine's broader reform effort under a $17.5 billion (12.11 billion pound) International Monetary Fund bailout programme that political infighting has threatened to derail.