Posts in the category
National Prosecutor demanding that prosecutors snitch on independent judges
A letter from National Prosecutor Bogdan Święczkowski to line prosecutors represents the opening of another front in Law and Justice’s fight to put a choke hold on the independence of the justice system.
PiS’ night-time attack on the independence of the courts in Poland and on the CJEU judgment. The new bill, point by point
A bill appeared on the Sejm’s website during the night of 12–13 December, prohibiting judges from doing anything that is not in line with the Law and Justice party’s (PiS’) thoughts. It introduces the whims of Ziobro’s ministry and Przyłębska’s Constitutional Tribunal – instead of the Constitution and European law. Fear of PiS – instead of judicial dignity. This is how Poland is to be if this bill is enacted
Supreme Court strikes at illegitimate judicial bodies
From now on, it will be possible to invoke recent rulings by the EU Court of Justice and the Polish Supreme Court as a means of undermining judges appointed by the new National Council of the Judiciary. It is highly likely we will see competing and contradictory verdicts and resolutions being handed down by courts, including the various chambers of the Supreme Court. “This needs to be dealt with via legislation,” says Michał Laskowski, Spokesman for the Supreme Court.
Polish judge persecuted for implementing Court of Justice verdict
Judge Paweł Juszczyszyn, an advocate of judicial independence, is being targeted by appointees of Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro for implementing a CJEU ruling that the PiS-led government disagrees with. Judges and ordinary citizens around Poland have come out to protest in his defence.
NGOs and academics urge von der Leyen to block disciplinary measures with ECJ help [open letter]
Open Letter to the President of the European Commission regarding Poland’s disciplinary regime for judges and the urgent need for interim measures in Commission v Poland (C-791/19)
Oral justification of the Supreme Court judgment in connection with the CJEU ruling regarding the Disciplinary Chamber and the National Council of the Judiciary
Thanks to the Association of Judges “Themis”, we publish the translation of oral justification of the Supreme Court judgment of 5 December 2019 in case in which it requested the Court of Justice for preliminary ruling of 19 November 2019
Polish president lashes out at CJEU judgement
“I hope that nobody will dare to further strike at the justice system,” said Andrzej Duda. Who did he have in mind? The judges of the Supreme Court. He accused them of links with the communist regime, corruption and deliberately misleading the EU Court of Justice. “They were masters of life and death,” shouted the president. No PiS politician had the chutzpah to react like that to the CJEU ruling.
Despite CJEU verdict, Judiciary Council and Disciplinary Chamber not slowing down
The Disciplinary Chamber of Poland’s Supreme Court has convicted Judge Alina Czubieniak for a verdict she issued. This represents the beginning of a new phase in repressions against judges in Poland. The National Council of the Judiciary has elected new judges to two chambers of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court President: government and parliament must intervene to avoid legal chaos
First President of the Supreme Court, Małgorzata Gersdorf, issued a statement imploring the Polish government and parliament to intervene in order to avoid an eruption of legal chaos in the wake of the 19 November judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU, issued in response to questions referred by the Labour Law and Social Security Chamber of the Supreme Court.
EU Court of Justice poised to draw line in sand over judicial independence in Poland
Poland’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights, Maciej Taborowski, explains the significance of prejudicial questions submitted by Polish courts. On Tuesday 19 November, the CJEU will issue a crucial ruling determining the status of the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court and the neo-National Council of the Judiciary.