Following the appointment of 15 new judges to the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) on Friday, criticism mounts over the nomination of former Deputy Justice Minister Łukasz Piebiak.
New Appointments to the KRS
Of the 15 judges who joined the KRS on Friday, 13 were indicated by the ruling coalition clubs, having been previously selected by judicial assemblies across the country. Law and Justice (PiS) recommended Łukasz Piebiak, a former deputy minister of justice during Zbigniew Ziobro’s tenure. Meanwhile, Confederation nominated Łukasz Zawadzki, an Opole judge affiliated, like Piebiak, with the Lawyers for Poland Association.
Criticism from Waldemar Żurek
In an interview with Onet.pl, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek characterized the nomination of Piebiak as a strategic error for PiS. He labeled Piebiak a compromised figure who was forced to resign during the “heiter” scandal. Żurek argued that PiS is pushing this candidacy to delay the renewal process of the KRS, noting that the coalition selected the best available judges within the framework of a flawed law drafted by PiS.
The Heiter Scandal
Łukasz Piebiak served as deputy justice minister from 2015 to 2019, departing after media reports regarding the “heiter” scandal. Onet.pl recalls that Piebiak allegedly directed a campaign to discredit judges critical of judicial reforms. Reports suggested judges formed a WhatsApp group named “Kasta” to coordinate these activities.
Piebiak’s Defense
In a June 2020 interview with Rzeczpospolita, Piebiak denied the existence of a scandal within the ministry, claiming the narrative was solely a media creation. He insisted that judges have always communicated, argued, and gossiped among themselves, describing them as ordinary people who share information.
Parliamentary Voting Results
The election of the 15 judges saw support from 153 Civic Coalition deputies, 31 from PSL, 20 from the Left, 15 from the Centre, 13 from Poland 2050, and 2 independent deputies. Conversely, 12 Confederation deputies, one independent, and others voted against the appointments, while some deputies abstained.
PiS Boycott
All 187 Law and Justice deputies abstained from the vote, citing a Constitutional Tribunal protective order. The Tribunal had instructed the Sejm to halt the selection process pending a review of the PiS-filed motion, which challenged the constitutionality of KRS regulations regarding the Sejm’s role in the selection process.
