Police Intervention at the Constitutional Tribunal Amid Standoff Over New Judges
Police and prosecutors arrived at the Constitutional Tribunal on Tuesday following reports that Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski blocked newly elected judges from attending a scheduled...
Police and prosecutors arrived at the Constitutional Tribunal on Tuesday following reports that Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski blocked newly elected judges from attending a scheduled assembly.
Table Of Content
Police Presence at the Tribunal
Waldemar Żurek announced on Tuesday, July 14, that police and prosecutor Andrzej Piaseczny had arrived at the Constitutional Tribunal. Piaseczny is part of a team investigating the impact of rulings made by “neo-judges” within major institutions, including the Tribunal, the Supreme Court, and the National Council of the Judiciary.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the intervention stemmed from efforts to prevent newly elected judges from joining an assembly convened by Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski. Reports indicate the meeting was relocated near the president’s office and scheduled for 4:00 PM, a time when building access is typically restricted.
Standoff Over Entry Denied
Despite organizational changes, judges Marcin Dziurda and Krystian Markiewicz arrived at the Tribunal but were refused entry. They were previously told their presence constituted an “unlawful intrusion.” Consequently, the judges summoned the police, and the proceedings were ultimately aborted.
Ongoing Investigation Into Tribunal Obstruction
Legal proceedings have been launched after judges formally notified the prosecutor’s office that their attempts to perform their duties were being obstructed. Minister Żurek stated that the investigation is active, with evidence being collected and witnesses being questioned, suggesting that prosecutorial findings may be forthcoming.
Status of Newly Elected Judges
On March 13, the Sejm elected six judges to the Constitutional Tribunal: Magdalena Bentkowska, Marcin Dziurda, Krystian Markiewicz, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, Maciej Taborowski, and Dariusz Szostek. President Karol Nawrocki administered oaths to only two of them on April 1, while the remaining judges took their oaths in the Sejm without the president’s participation nine days later. Sławomir Patyra was subsequently elected on June 11 and is still awaiting his swearing-in.