Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka, Chairperson of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), has resigned from her position citing the Sejm’s failure to respond to a Constitutional Tribunal injunction regarding new council appointments.
Resignation and Legal Fallout
Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka announced her resignation via social media, stating that she made the decision in response to the Constitutional Tribunal’s interim measure and the Sejm’s lack of action. Her departure now places the responsibility on Małgorzata Manowska, First President of the Supreme Court, to convene a plenary session to elect a new chairperson.
Contested Parliamentary Elections
The Sejm recently elected 15 new judges to the KRS despite a ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal ordering a suspension of the process. The new term for these members officially begins on May 16, at which point the previous members’ functions expire. Of the new members, 13 were recommended by the governing coalition, while two were proposed by PiS and Confederation.
Government and Judicial Response
Deputy Minister of Justice Dariusz Mazur emphasized that the First President of the Supreme Court is obligated to convene the session with the new composition of the KRS. He further warned that any attempts to boycott the sovereign decision of the Sejm would be met with appropriate reactions from state authorities.
Procedural Uncertainties
The Supreme Court has indicated that no decision has yet been made regarding when the session will be convened. According to the KRS Act, if the First President of the Supreme Court fails to call a meeting within the statutory timeframe, the oldest member of the council, being a judge or a retired judge, is required to do so.
