Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek is weighing reforms of the National Council of the Judiciary, aiming to restore its pre‑PiS composition.
Media: Waldemar Żurek Considers Reforming KRS
Journalists from Rzeczpospolita contacted a former member of the National Council of the Judiciary, who reported that the Ministry of Justice recently reached out to him. He claims that their discussion centered on a concept the ministry is evaluating: a selective reactivation of the judiciary arm of the Council as it existed before March 2018. The judge, who was asked whether he would support joining the newly formed KRS, expressed willingness to discuss the idea.
How Waldemar Żurek Plans to Reform the KRS
According to the journalist, the so‑called neo‑KRS would be abolished by a Sejm resolution declaring the election of its members invalid. A different judge defended the minister’s proposal, noting that the discussion on reactivating the old KRS has circulated within the judiciary for some time. One judge emphasized that the idea should have been introduced in the early months of 2024, but it was initially rejected by politicians. The stance of judges, however, remains open to the proposal, with the promise that they are ready to examine a possible renewal of the Council’s operations.
Andrzej Duda Sends the Bill to the Constitutional Tribunal
The government had previously attempted to reform the KRS, but the bill was blocked by President Andrzej Duda, who referred it to the Constitutional Tribunal where it remains pending. The proposed legislation aimed to shorten the terms of the current KRS members and initiate elections under constitutional rules. A key judge highlighted the importance of these changes, arguing that the judiciary cannot function properly without a functioning KRS.
What Is the KRS About?
The KRS regulations were altered in December 2017 by certain council members and PiS senators, resulting in the dismissal of 15 judges. Their replacements were elected for four‑year terms by the Sejm, not the judiciary. The new rules also impeded effective appeals to the Supreme Court over KRS decisions regarding presidential nominations of judges. Unconstitutionality was cited by the Office of the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court, the KRS itself, and various legal and international bodies.
