Constitutional Tribunal President Demands Explanation After Police Intervention

President of the Constitutional Tribunal, Bogdan Święczkowski, has formally demanded a full explanation from the Police Commander following a police intervention at the Tribunal’s headquarters during a General Assembly meeting on July 14.

Demands for Clarification

In a letter to Police Commander Marek Boroń, the President of the Constitutional Tribunal (TK) requested information regarding the basis for the police intervention, the identity of the person who filed the report, and access to all documentation generated during the incident. Święczkowski emphasized that as president, he is legally obligated to ensure a secure working environment for staff and judges, and he characterized the police activity as an unlawful external interference in the Tribunal’s independence.

Constitutional Concerns and Jurisdictional Disputes

Święczkowski argued that the presence of police forces inside the building potentially violated constitutional principles guaranteeing the independence of the Tribunal and the autonomy of its judges. He noted that the intervention occurred amid an unresolved competency dispute regarding the appointment of new judges by the Sejm, maintaining that the police, as an executive branch entity, have no authority to determine who may attend the General Assembly.

Conflict Over General Assembly Participation

The July 14 General Assembly, intended to discuss the Tribunal’s budget, was aborted after the quorum was lost when judges Magdalena Bentkowska and Dariusz Szostek left the hall. The meeting saw some individuals chosen by the Sejm admitted as guests, while judges Krystian Markiewicz and Marcin Dziurda were denied entry, leading them to call the police. Markiewicz maintained that his exclusion from the assembly prevented him from fulfilling his legal duties as a judge.

Allegations of Intimidation

The Tribunal issued a statement labeling the police and prosecutor’s actions an attempt to intimidate an independent judicial body. Święczkowski later characterized the events as a “deliberate assault” on the constitutional organ, defending his decision to restrict access to certain individuals who had previously entered the hall without permission, which he described as a breach of the Tribunal’s order.