The Sejm will vote on candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) in May, following a vetting process of 60 judicial nominees.
Full List of Candidates Released
A complete list of candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary has been published by the Sejm. The parliamentary vote on the appointments is scheduled for May 13-15.
Sixty judges are vying for positions on the KRS, with one candidacy disqualified due to formal deficiencies. The Sejm’s Bureau anticipates selecting KRS members during the May session.
Candidate Nominations and Verification
In mid-March, the Sejm’s Bureau reported receiving 61 nominations. Twenty-nine candidates were nominated by groups of at least 25 judges, 30 by both judge and citizen groups, and two by groups of at least 2,000 citizens.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the judicial status of all candidates, verifying their appointments were made with the involvement of the KRS functioning under the 2017 law. The Speaker of the Sejm also sought input from court presidents regarding candidates’ records and conduct.
Upcoming Procedures and Timeline
Only one of the 61 nominations will not proceed further due to a lack of a designated representative. The required number of signatures from judges or citizens was met in all other cases, and there was no need to consult the National Electoral Commission.
Between late April and May, the Speaker of the Sejm will request nominations from parliamentary clubs for KRS members, as per Article 11d of the KRS Act. The Justice and Human Rights Committee will then compile a list of 15 candidates for the Sejm to vote on.
Judicial Opinions and Final Selection
The selection of the judicial component of the KRS is preliminarily scheduled for the Sejm session on May 13-15. Prior to the vote, candidates will receive opinions from the judicial community, with a deadline of April 20, though some courts may submit feedback later.
