Deputy Justice Minister Dariusz Mazur rebuked former National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) head Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka for questioning the legitimacy of recent judicial appointments following a disputed Constitutional Tribunal injunction.
The Constitutional Tribunal Controversy
“Respecting the Constitutional Tribunal’s security order and the Sejm’s subsequent lack of reaction, I have submitted my resignation,” wrote Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka on May 18. This followed a May 12 Constitutional Tribunal injunction issued at the request of PiS MPs, which ordered the Sejm to halt the election of new KRS judge-members. Despite this, the Sejm elected 15 new members three days later.
Deputy Minister Mazur’s Rebuttal
Deputy Minister Dariusz Mazur stated on X that the Tribunal’s injunction was ineffective, arguing the body lacked the competence to issue such an order and acted with an improper composition. He emphasized that the rule of law is returning, noting that citizens will regain a KRS independent of politicians. Mazur further criticized Pawełczyk-Woicka for her tenure, which led to Poland’s exclusion from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and significant financial penalties.
KRS Transition and Legal Standing
The Polish Press Agency queried the Supreme Court regarding when First President Małgorzata Manowska might convene a KRS meeting. Supreme Court spokesperson Albert Stawiszyński stated that no decision has been made. Current regulations dictate that the Council chair calls meetings, and in their absence, the First President of the Supreme Court leads the proceedings until a successor is chosen.
New KRS Appointments
On May 17, the Sejm elected 15 judges to the KRS for a four-year term. The new members include 13 candidates from the governing coalition and two from PiS and Konfederacja. PiS MPs boycotted the vote, citing the Constitutional Tribunal’s injunction. These new members officially began their terms on May 16, replacing the previous council members.