Senior Polish judges are urging participation in the vetting of candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary, amid concerns over political influence.
Appeals from Court Presidents
Presidents of appellate courts have appealed for opinions on candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS). They also voiced support for a previously released position on the matter.
Ten of eleven appellate court presidents signed a statement on March 9th proposing regulations for reviewing candidates in the ongoing KRS elections, and suggesting a preliminary date for general assemblies of judges to discuss the matter.
Judges Acknowledge Political Influence
The presidents acknowledged that ultimately, KRS members will be chosen by politicians and that they must rely on their stated commitments. However, they emphasized the importance of fulfilling their own duty to express opinions on individual candidates.
The statement urged all judges to participate in the candidate review process, proposing April 20th as a date for general assemblies, though acknowledging this date is contingent on parliamentary proceedings.
Current Election Context
The appeal comes as the judicial selection process for the KRS is underway, with the current term of its judges expiring in May. Attempts to persuade the President to sign an amendment altering the election rules failed, meaning new members will be chosen under existing regulations by the lower house of parliament.
Prior to the parliamentary vote, courts will offer opinions on candidates during general assemblies, with ten of eleven appellate court presidents involved in the process.
Ensuring KRS Legitimacy
The presidents stated their obligation is to ensure the KRS, a key body for judicial independence, is formed to the highest constitutional standard. They emphasized that the legitimacy of the new KRS depends on broad judicial participation and consistent procedures across all courts.
Alongside their statement, they published a draft regulation for the review process, outlining procedures for vote counting by commissions, excluding candidates from serving on those commissions, and ensuring secret ballots with individual candidate listings.
Proposed Voting Regulations
The proposed regulations allow each judge to cast up to 15 votes for 15 candidates. Results would be announced during the assemblies, with protocols sent to court presidents for publication on court websites. Aggregate results from appellate courts would be sent to the court president and then to the Sejm Marshal.
Supreme Court Support
Thirty-one senior Supreme Court judges have now expressed support for the presidents’ actions, fully endorsing their March 9th statement and urging all judges to participate in the candidate review process.
Signatories include Włodzimierz Wróbel, Bohdan Bieńko, Jarosław Matras, and former Supreme Court presidents Michał Laskowski, Dariusz Zawistowski, and Piotr Prusinowski.
