Grzegorz Braun filed a motion to exclude Warsaw judge Marcin Brzostko, citing European rulings, on Monday morning in a trial that attracted supporters and court‑side protests.
Recusal Application Filed
On Monday at 9 a.m., Grzegorz Braun began proceedings before the Warsaw Praga‑Południe District Court after filing a motion to exclude Judge Marcin Brzostko from the case. Braun argued that the judge should align with “Latin civilization standards” and urged the judge to step aside, which he announced on Radio TOK FM.
Sudden Reference to European Jurisprudence
During the session, Braun cited European jurisprudence as a basis for his motion, leading the judge to be called a “neocourt.” Prosecutor Artur Wańdoch described the request as “absurd” and Mieczysław Krzysztof Stępiński, a prosecutor’s deputy, criticized the reliance on European rulings.
Supporters Rally Outside the Court
Following the filing, a delegation of Braun’s supporters appeared outside the courthouse. They claimed solidarity with Braun, stating that the judge was obstructing them. The Confederation of Polish Crown’s leader spoke of a wide “fire suppression” front, and participants included Wojciech O. and Marcin O., known online as “Jaszczur” and “Ludwikzek.” They belong to the radical “Rodacy Kamraci” movement, which had previously faced 154 charges.
Charges Against Braun
In July, the prosecutor’s office filed a 17‑act indictment against Braun, covering incidents ranging from a March 2022 assault on the director of the National Institute of Cardiology to accusations that he shouted that the director was intoxicated. Other charges include allegedly injuring a participant during a 2023 incident where he extinguished Chanukah candles with a fire extinguisher in Parliament, blocking a Holocaust lecture at the German Historical Institute, and tossing a Christmas tree into a Kraków court’s bin.
