Justice Minister Adam Bodnar appointed Monika Frąckowiak as the president of the District Court Poznań-Nowe Miasto and Wilda on April 10, 2024.

Her candidacy for this position was previously selected by the Assembly of Judges of this court, which acts as a judicial self-government. She received the most votes. The Assembly also chose two other candidates, Judges Przemysław Wita and Karol Resztak, but they received fewer votes.

Frąckowiak replaces President Michał Tasarek, who resigned due to pressure from judges. This court also lacks vice presidents appointed by Minister Ziobro, as their terms have ended.

In recent years, Judge Frąckowiak has been actively involved in defending the rule of law. She is a member of the Iustitia Judges Association and vice president of the European Judges Association MEDEL. Both associations defend the independence of the judiciary. Frąckowiak was also one of the first judges in Poland to face disciplinary actions initiated by Minister Ziobro’s disciplinary officers due to her defense of the rule of law.

Her appointment as the president of the Poznań court signals the end of the era of Minister Ziobro’s nominees, replacing them with judges known for defending the rule of law and resisting governmental pressure.

Poznań Judges Call for Dismissals, Facing Potential Trouble

The appointment of Judge Frąckowiak is not the only personnel change in Poznań’s courts. Minister Bodnar’s first personnel decision in the courts was to initiate the procedure in mid-January 2024 to dismiss the president of the Court of Appeal in Poznań, neo-judge Mateusz Bartoszek (who is currently seeking a permanent promotion to the Court of Appeal through the neo-NCJ) and two vice presidents, neo-judges Przemysław Radzik and Sylwia Dembska.

Poznań judges demanded these dismissals, risking potential trouble. The minister had to act quickly. Subsequently, the president of the District Court in Poznań, neo-judge Daniel Jurkiewicz, and vice president Michał Inglot were dismissed. Now, the president of the District Court Poznań-Nowe Miasto and Wilda has resigned.

In addition to appointing Frąckowiak, Minister Bodnar also appointed a new president of the Court of Appeal in Poznań. Karol Ratajczak was selected by the Assembly of Appellate Judges.

On April 11, 2024, the minister appointed a new president of the District Court in Poznań. Piotr Marciniak, chosen by the Assembly of Judges, was appointed to this position.

Judges Demand the Dismissal of Neo-NCJ Member Jaskulski

More judges from Poznań are demanding the removal of Ziobro’s nominees. A few days ago, the Assembly of Judges of the District Court Poznań-Grunwald and Jeżyce took place. The judges expressed a vote of no confidence in the court’s leadership. Court president Tomasz Sroka (seeking promotion from the neo-NCJ to the district court) received 38 votes against continuing in his role. Twelve judges voted in favor, and four abstained.

Vice President Sylwester Ksiądz – Already Nominated by the Illegal NCJ to the District Court – Received No Votes in Favor

Vice President Sylwester Ksiądz, who has already been nominated by the illegal National Council of the Judiciary (NCJ) to the district court, received no votes in favor. Forty-nine votes were cast for his resignation. Another vice president, member of the illegal neo-NCJ, Marek Jaskulski (part of the so-called “hawks” faction in the neo-NCJ), also received no votes of support, with fifty-two judges voting for his resignation.

President Sroka and Vice President Ksiądz resigned following this vote. It is likely that the Ministry of Justice will take the Assembly’s position into account and dismiss Jaskulski from his position as vice president in the near future.

Potential Changes at the Poznań-Stare Miasto District Court

Poznań also has the Poznań-Stare Miasto District Court. It is possible that this court will soon undergo a personnel revolution as well.

Frąckowiak: I Will Open the Court to Citizens

We asked Judge Monika Frąckowiak about her reasons for running and her plans. Frąckowiak said, “I decided to run because I knew I had the support of the judges. I also have a vision for managing the court, and that was decisive.”

She added, “I believe that one should not receive the presidency just for merit. However, it is also significant that I have proven my independence. I know how to work with people and will represent the interests of the judges.”

What Will She Change in the Court?

Frąckowiak: “I want to open the court to the people, to make it citizen-oriented. It is important to make decisions after consulting with the judges, ensuring their opinions matter. The issue with the family division, which is also a problem in other courts, is critical. There are many cases, but a shortage of judges. Assessors cannot adjudicate here. The situation of the administrative staff is also dire.”

How Will She Open the Court to Citizens?

Judge Frąckowiak: “We will organize educational events, open days. I want to cooperate with schools, the education board, and organize competitions.”

Frąckowiak emphasized, “It is important that for the first time since the pre-war era, court presidents are being elected by the judges themselves in Assemblies. Previously, someone always appointed them, and judges could only give their opinion. The change occurring in the courts now is therefore fundamental. Now we can decide for ourselves.”

The idea for judges’ assemblies to select candidates for court presidents was introduced by Justice Minister Adam Bodnar. He did this without legislative changes, as the law does not prohibit him from cooperating with the judicial self-government.

List of New Court Presidents Appointed by Minister Bodnar

In recent days, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar has also signed nominations for new presidents in other courts. These are mainly courts where judges initiated the dismissal of Minister Ziobro’s nominees. In other courts, the terms of the previous presidents simply ended. The candidates for presidents were selected by the Assemblies of Judges. Here are the appointments:

1. President of the District Court in Koszalin: Marta Knotz from Iustitia, who has been involved in defending the rule of law, was appointed. The previous president of this court, neo-judge Piotr Boguszewski, resigned under pressure from the judges’ community. The term of the vice president, neo-judge Marta Ignaczak, had also ended. Knotz was the only candidate for the new president and received support from 88 percent of the district judges in Koszalin.

2. President of the Regional Court in Bydgoszcz: Maria Leszczyńska was appointed, replacing neo-judge Mieczysław Oliwa, whose term had ended.

3. President of the Regional Court in Kielce: Małgorzata Solecka was appointed, replacing the president, neo-judge Paweł Stępień, who was dismissed at the request of the judges.

4. President of the Regional Court in Łódź: Marta Witoszyńska was appointed, replacing the previous president whose term had ended.

5. President of the District Court in Bełchatów: Sławomir Forenc was appointed. The previous president, Rafał Sobczak, resigned under pressure from the judges’ community.

6. President of the District Court in Kozienice: Krzysztof Piaseczny was appointed.

Since the Beginning of His Term, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar Has Appointed the Following Court Presidents (Nominations Began in January 2024):

1. President of the Court of Appeal in Szczecin: Maciej Żelazowski
2. President of the Regional Court in Lublin: Dorota Stańczyk
3. President of the Regional Court in Piotrków Trybunalski: Urszula Sipińska-Sęk
4. President of the District Court in Legnica: Paweł Oborski
5. President of the District Court in Strzyżów: Małgorzata Pirga
6. President of the Court of Appeal in Warsaw: Dorota Markiewicz, replacing neo-judge Piotr Schab, known for prosecuting independent judges
7. President of the Regional Court in Jelenia Góra: Ryszard Sułtanowski
8. President of the District Court in Białogard: Agnieszka Bajor
9. President of the District Court in Włocławek: Romuald Jankowski
10. President of the District Court in Ostrów Mazowiecka: Joanna Raducha-Modrzejewska
11. President of the Regional Court in Słupsk: Agnieszka Niklas-Bibik, who was heavily involved in defending the rule of law and faced repressions for it
12. President of the District Court in Radom: Marek Miłosz

13. President of the District Court in Nowy Targ: Tomasz Bigoszewski
14. President of the Regional Court in Radom: Michał Gałek
15. President of the Court of Appeal in Kraków: Paweł Rygle, who has been involved in defending the rule of law
16.President of the Regional Court in Częstochowa: Jarosław Poch
17. President of the District Court in Pabianice: Adrianna Pokrywiecka
18. President of the District Court in Łask: Magdalena Socha

Upcoming Changes in Additional Courts

In the near future, new presidents will also be appointed to courts where Ziobro’s nominees were recently dismissed. In some of these courts, assemblies have already selected candidates for presidents. These include:

– District Court and Regional Court in Olsztyn
– Court of Appeal in Lublin
– Court of Appeal in Katowice
– District Courts and Regional Court in Kraków
– Regional Court in Ostrołęka
– Regional Court in Gliwice
– District Courts in the Kraków region
– Regional Court Warszawa-Praga
– District Courts in Biskupiec, Gliwice, Ruda Śląska, and Tarnowskie Góry

Who Minister Bodnar has already dismissed

Judges across Poland demand the removal of Ziobro’s nominees from the courts. Such appeals were sent to Bodnar by the judges’ associations Themis and Iustitia, as well as appellate judges from Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, Rzeszów, Katowice, and Lublin.

Appeals to Bodnar were also sent by district and regional judges from Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, Olsztyn, Elbląg, Koszalin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Kielce, Rzeszów, Jasło, Krosno, Białystok, Ostrołęka, the District Court for Warsaw-Żoliborz, Sulęcin, employees of the District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski, and Judge Jakub Kościerzyski from the District Court in Bydgoszcz.

So far, Minister Bodnar has dismissed 20 presidents of courts and their deputies:
– President of the Appellate Court in Poznań, judge Mateusz Bartoszek, and vice-presidents, judge Przemysław Radzik and judge Sylwia Dembska.
– President of the Appellate Court in Kraków, judge Zygmunt Drożdżejka, and vice-president, judge Katarzyna Wysokińska-Walenciak.
– President of the Regional Court in Kielce, judge Paweł Stępień. After his dismissal, the vice-president, judge Monika Wrona, resigned herself.
– President of the Regional Court in Poznań, judge Daniel Jurkiewicz, and vice-president Michał Inglot.
– President of the Appellate Court in Warsaw, judge Piotr Schab. Initially, he did not acknowledge Bodnar’s decision, but ultimately, on March 22, 2024, he left the president’s office.

– President of the Regional Court in Olsztyn, judge Michał Lasota, and his deputies, judges Tomasz Kosakowski and Marcin Czapski.
– President of the District Court in Olsztyn, Maciej Nawacki, and his deputies, judges Tomasz Koszewski and Adam Jaroczyński.
– President of the District Court in Biskupiec, judge Tomasz Turkowski.
– President of the Regional Court in Kraków, judge Bartłomiej Migda, and his deputies: judge Michał Puza, member of the neo-National Council of the Judiciary Irena Bochniak, and judge Piotr Kowalski.
– President of the District Court for Kraków-Nowa Huta, judge Maciej Pragłowski, and vice-president of this court, judge Łukasz Felisiak.
– President of the District Court for Kraków-Podgórze, judge Marcin Cichoński.
– President of the District Court for Kraków-Śródmieście, judge Piotr Skrzyszowski.
– President of the District Court in Myślenice, judge Małgorzata Święch.
– President of the District Court in Wieliczka, Ewa Motyczyńska-Pałys.
– President of the Appellate Court in Katowice, Katarzyna Frydrych, former Deputy Minister of Justice in the PiS government.

– President of the District Court Warsaw-Praga, judge Michał Bukiewicz, and vice-president Kinga Kubuj.
– President of the District Court in Ostrołęka, Jarosław Tekliński.
– President of the District Court in Gliwice, judge Patryk Poniatowski, and vice-president judge Wojciech Głowacki. Their dismissal is a formality because the minister already has the consent of the court’s Collegium.
– President of the District Court in Gliwice, Joanna Zachorowska, and two vice-presidents of this court, judge Anna Jaworska-Wieloch (previously an assessor) and Barbara Klepacz. Their dismissal has already been approved as well.
– President of the District Court in Ruda Śląska, Ewa Żarkiewicz-Marek, and vice-president Adrian Klanka. The minister also has consent for their dismissal.

The Minister of Justice also intends to dismiss the management of the District Court in Rybnik and vice-presidents from the Appellate Court in Warsaw. Approval from the court’s Collegium is awaited in these cases.

Those who resigned voluntarily

Several presidents and vice-presidents of courts have voluntarily resigned. They are stepping down under pressure from the judicial community and in response to their calls for resignation. Previously, presidents and vice-presidents of 8 courts did the same. They are:

– President of the District Court Poznań-Nowe Miasto i Wilda, Michał Tasarek.
– President of the District Court in Koszalin, judge Piotr Boguszewski.
– Vice-president of the District Court in Elbląg, judge Anna Długajczyk.
– President of the District Court in Bełchatów, judge Robert Sobczak.
– President of the Appellate Court in Lublin, judge Jerzy Daniluk, and vice-president, judge Piotr Czerski.
– President of the District Court in Elbląg, judge Jacek Bryl, and vice-president, judge Katarzyna Jacewicz-Okuniewicz.
– Vice-president of the District Court Warsaw-Praga, Przemysław Chrzanowski.
– President of the District Court in Tarnowskie Góry, Marcin Kulikowski.

So far, Minister Adam Bodnar has received refusals to resign from the presidents of the district courts in Bielsko-Biała and Sosnowiec. In the former, the president is Anna Szwed-Szczygieł, who happens to be the daughter of PiS politician Stanisław Szwed. In Sosnowiec, the president is judge Ewa Łąpińska, a member of the unauthorized neo-National Council of the Judiciary.

The Collegiums also did not agree to the resignations of the presidents of the district courts in Bartoszyce, Kętrzyn, Miechów, Chrzanów, Olkusz, Wadowice, Sucha Beskidzka, and the vice-president from Myślenice.

The article was published in Polish in OKO.press on 12 April 2024.