Four of six judges elected to Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal in March have requested oath-taking appointments from the President, following oaths taken by two others this week.
Judges Request Oath-Taking Appointments
Four candidates selected as Constitutional Tribunal judges in March – Krystian Markiewicz, Maciej Taborowski, Marcin Dziurda, and Anna Korwin-Piotrowska – have requested the President specify a date for their oath-taking ceremony, according to PAP.
Oath-Taking for Two Judges Completed
On Wednesday, Dariusz Szostek and Magdalena Bentkowska, two of the six judges elected by the Sejm on March 13th, took their oaths before President Karol Nawrocki.
Request Follows Initial Oath-Takings
Krystian Markiewicz, in a letter to the President, requested an oath-taking appointment, citing the oaths taken by Szostek and Bentkowska. He expressed his desire to begin fulfilling his duties as a Constitutional Tribunal judge as soon as possible.
Remaining Candidates Also Submitted Requests
Markiewicz confirmed that the remaining three candidates elected as Constitutional Tribunal judges have sent similar requests to the President.
Presidential Office Cites Tribunal Vacancies
Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the KPRP, stated that during President Nawrocki’s term, two vacancies arose within the Tribunal. He also noted that the oath-taking of two judges fulfills the requirement for a full composition of the Tribunal – 11 judges. The Presidential Office is currently analyzing the situation of the remaining four candidates.
Judges Emphasize Right to Oath and Full Tribunal
Judge Bentkowska stated after her oath-taking that she was not informed whether the remaining four selected judges would also be sworn in, but emphasized that all judges were properly elected and should have the opportunity to take the oath. Judge Szostek added that the Constitutional Tribunal should have 15 judges according to the constitution and expressed hope the President would administer the oaths to the remaining candidates.
Background on Recent Tribunal Elections
The Sejm elected six individuals to the Constitutional Tribunal in March, including Krystian Markiewicz, Maciej Taborowski, Marcin Dziurda, and Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, in addition to Bentkowska and Szostek.
Tribunal Composition and Ongoing Disputes
Prior to the Sejm’s selections, there were six vacancies on the Constitutional Tribunal, leaving it with nine judges out of a possible 15. With the oath-taking of Szostek and Bentkowska, the Tribunal now has 11 judges, though the current government does not recognize Justyna Piskorska and Jarosław Wyrembak as legitimate judges, as reflected in a recent Sejm resolution. The terms of Andrzej Zielonacki and Justyna Piskorska will end in 2026.