Warsaw court president cites administrative lapses and insubordination in removing international section head.
Administrative Failures
President Beata Najjar of the Warsaw District Court formally dismissed Judge Dariusz Łubowski, citing serious organizational shortcomings in his leadership of the international criminal proceedings section. Key issues included improper documentation management and unresponsiveness to staffing changes.
Specific examples included retaining retired judges Andrzej Krasnodębski (since April 2025) and Grażyna Puchalska on active duty rosters, alongside omitting delegated judges from schedules. Najjar deemed these “fundamental breaches of administrative oversight.”
Challenge to Authority
A second principal reason was Łubowski’s public challenge to Najjar’s authority as court president. Her dismissal letter stated this rendered further administrative cooperation impossible, as section heads act under the president’s mandate. Undermining her legal status created an irreconcilable conflict, Najjar argued.
The dispute relates to broader legal context: Najjar, aged 65, bypassed the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) by submitting her oath extension directly to Justice Minister Adam Bodnar. The KRS disputes this, suggesting potential retirement status implications and possible legal action.
Departmental Conflict
Additionally, the head of the court’s Eighth Criminal Division formally requested Łubowski’s removal due to dysfunctional teamwork and leadership deficiencies affecting the section’s complex international caseload.
Reassignment Context
Najjar rejected claims of retaliation against Łubowski, stating his reassignment stemmed from staffing shortages in the criminal division, not punitive measures. The duty shift was purely organizational, she emphasized.
New Leadership
Łubowski was replaced by Judge Tomasz Grochowicz, a 40-year veteran with extensive international experience. Najjar highlighted his staff authority and pre-section expertise, citing the change as necessary to restore stability in the international proceedings unit.
