Polish President Karol Nawrocki rejected the nomination of 46 judges this week, citing concerns over the constitutional order, while Judge Ziemowit Barański warned that rejecting the call would feel like throwing a shot at himself.
President Blocks Nominations of 46 Judges
President Karol Nawrocki refused to sign the appointment of 46 judges this week, saying he would not endorse nominees he believes undermine the constitutional‑legal order. The move came amid criticism of changes by the ruling PiS party to the judiciary.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated the refusal stemmed from opposition to PiS‑driven reforms, referencing a 2021 action in which 4,000 judges appealed to the PiS‑led party for respect of EU Court decisions concerning the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Chamber. Another group of judges had signed a protest list over the envelope elections scheduled for 2020. The Attorney General highlighted that all nominees had undergone competitive selection before the neo‑KRS procedure.
Judge Barański Says Rejecting Calls Is Like Throwing at Himself
Regional Court judge Ziemowit Barański of Wrocław said he has never ruled on a case with a political context and confirmed he signed an appeal against the abolition of the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Chamber. He claimed that this was not political activity.
When asked if he regretted his involvement, Barański replied “absolutely not”, explaining that refusing to sign similar appeals in the future would be as if he were “throwing it at himself.” He added that if the president, after reviewing a request from the National Council of Judiciary, found him unfit for a senior office, he would respect that decision. Barański expressed relief that a nomination for him had been submitted almost two years earlier.
