The head of Poland’s Supreme Council of Advocates denounced President Nawrocki’s refusal to sign nominations for judges appointed after 2018, warning the unresolved crisis will directly harm ordinary citizens.
President Nawrocki’s Refusal to Sign May‑18 Nominations
On Wednesday, November 12, President Zygmunt Nawrocki announced that he would not sign the nominations of 46 judges. He said he would not accept nominees who, in his view, undermine the constitutional‑legal order.
According to the president, judges who challenge the constitutional‑legal framework of the Republic cannot be promoted or have their appointments approved if they depend on the president’s signature.
Key Issues Highlighted by the Bar Council President
The president of the Supreme Council of Advocates emphasized that the problem of the status of judges appointed after 2018 is far-reaching, affecting every citizen.
He described the situation as a crisis that will remain troubling until a consensus is reached among the government, the Sejm, the Senate, and the president.
The Role of the Judiciary in a Political Crisis
He warned that the unresolved status of post‑2018 judges, and the consequent impact on ongoing trials, will directly strike Polish citizens by invalidating rulings linked to the participation of these judges.
He specifically referenced the improper formation of the National Judicial Council, alleging that the Sejm’s selection of 15 judges involved purely political actors.
Lack of Compromise from the Presidency
The Council president stated that he sees no openness on the president’s side toward compromise, despite suggestions that the president could propose legislation to regularize the judges’ status.
He demanded that the president, as the incumbent holder of the office, should instead provide space for compromise and stand firmly for the citizens.
Implications for Ordinary Citizens
Ultimately, the Council’s comments stress that ordinary people and their cases in Polish courts are the real hostages of the current crisis.
