A heated exchange erupted in the Supreme Court during proceedings over the immunity of Małgorzata Manowska, with a judge shouting “Enough of this!” and aides being forcibly cleared from the room.
The Showdown
On Friday, August 29th, a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court ruled that 12 judges should be excluded from proceedings regarding Manowska’s immunity, causing a significant reduction in the court’s quorum for the case.
Rash of Exchanges
During the proceedings, Vice-President Piotr Andrzejewski growled at the excluded judges, “Fuck this, shut up and stop interfering! This is a court, not a political circus!” The judge then slammed his hand on the desk and announced a one-hour break.
The Disputes Over Manowska’s Immunity
The case concerns allegations of three potential legal breaches by Manowska. The prosecutor general’s office claims there is sufficient suspicion of:
1. Exceeding authority by declaring parliamentary sessions valid without quorum in 2021.
2. Failing to uphold the law by not convening a full court session as required.
3. Failing to follow an Olsztyn court order regarding the suspension of Judge Paweł Juszczyszyn.