Warsaw judge Dariusz Łubowski has been removed from his position after blocking a European Arrest Warrant against former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski.
Background on Judge Łubowski
Łubowski has headed the international section of the Warsaw District Court since 2018. A 30-year judicial veteran, he spent half of his career on a delegation at the Ministry of Justice. He specializes in international criminal law and has handled numerous politically significant cases.
Key extradition cases handled by Łubowski
Throughout his career, Łubowski has made several high-profile extradition decisions. In 2022, he refused to extradite Belarusian opposition figure Sciapan Pusciła, who faced charges of conspiracy and incitement. Last October, he also declined to hand over to German authorities a Ukrainian diver suspected in the Nord Stream gas pipeline sabotage case.
Controversial ruling against Romanowski
Łubowski’s most controversial decision came in December when he annulled a European Arrest Warrant against former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski, who faces charges related to the Justice Fund and is currently hiding in Hungary. In his ruling, the judge stated that government statements about Romanowski infringed on judicial independence and described Poland’s situation as a “cryptodictatorship.”
Professional consequences and dispute
Following the Romanowski ruling, Łubowski was removed from the case and allegedly faced increased workloads. He reported that the Warsaw court president added 75% more cases to his duties, making it impossible to fulfill his responsibilities. Łubowski also disputed the legality of court president Beata Najjar’s position, claiming she obtained permission to continue past the retirement age through improper channels.
