President Karol Nawrocki announced he will refuse to nominate 46 judges, arguing they undermine the constitutional order.
President’s Authority Over Nominations
Article 179 of the Constitution grants the President the prerogative to nominate judges, a power Karol Nawrocki reaffirmed on Wednesday.
Defining a Judge
“Every judge nominated by the President is a judge of the Republic,” Nawrocki said, stressing that a judge’s legitimacy stems from presidential nomination.
Questions of Judicial Status
Nawrocki said that discourse over “neo‑judges” versus “older judges” is a public‐relations debate, not a constitutional or legal dispute. He stated that such discussions have already harmed Poland’s state system, and that ordinary citizens struggling to get fair judgments are affected.
Cases Highlighted as Examples
He cited recent failures to convict violent criminals—such as a brutal murderer who escaped sentencing—arguing that a lack of acceptance between judges allowed these lapses. He also mentioned a tragedy in Kołobrzeg involving an unprosecuted triple murder, again attributing it to judges questioning each other’s status.
Decision Against 46 Nominations
President Nawrocki announced he will not nominate 46 judges for higher courts for the next five years, citing their refusal to respect constitutional order and their adoption of “bad whispers” from Justice Minister Waldemar Żurka. He warned that no judge who challenges the President’s constitutional powers will receive nominations. Zbigniew Bogucki clarified that the decision concerns higher‑court appointments made during former President Andrzej Duda’s term; those judges will continue to judge.
