Supreme Court Overturns Minister’s Order to Remove Judge Piebiak

The Supreme Court ruled on July 2 that the Justice Minister’s order to suspend Judge Łukasz Piebiak lacked legal justification, citing a failure to meet the statutory requirement of immediacy.

Lack of Legal Grounds

Judge Marek Siwek, presiding over the case, announced that the order issued by the Minister of Justice lacked a sound legal basis. The Supreme Court found that the decision failed to satisfy the criteria mandated by the Law on the System of Common Courts.

Absence of Immediacy

The court clarified that “immediacy” requires a direct link between an incident and an urgent response that cannot be addressed through other channels. The court noted that the reasons cited by the Minister, including events from many years ago, did not meet this threshold.

Background of the Suspension

The Justice Minister ordered Piebiak’s suspension on June 15, citing two pending investigations: the 2019 Ministry of Justice “heaters’ scandal” and allegations regarding the use of a forged testament. Prosecutors filed a motion to strip Piebiak of his immunity in December 2025, claiming the evidence raised serious concerns regarding his ethical and legal conduct.

Professional Context

In May, the Sejm elected Piebiak to the National Council of the Judiciary upon nomination by the PiS parliamentary club. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Justice during Zbigniew Ziobro’s tenure.