President Karol Nawrocki has officially appointed Supreme Court judge Zbigniew Kapiński as the new First President of the Supreme Court, selecting him from five candidates vetted by the General Assembly.
A Career Defined by the Judiciary
Zbigniew Kapiński has served in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Chamber since June 2022. Previously, he led the Criminal Chamber after being appointed to that role in May 2023. Kapiński replaces the outgoing First President, Małgorzata Manowska, whose term concludes on May 26.
His legal career spans decades, beginning with his qualification as a judge in 1990. He served in the Siedlce District and Regional courts before moving to the Warsaw Court of Appeal in 2001. Throughout his tenure, he has focused primarily on criminal law and served as a judicial visitor.
A Contentious Selection Process
Spokesman Rafał Leśkiewicz defended the appointment, highlighting Kapiński’s record of challenging the interpretation of laws by the current government. He specifically noted Kapiński’s involvement in rulings concerning the parliamentary mandates of Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, as well as his confirmation of Dariusz Barski’s status as National Prosecutor.
Kapiński was selected from five candidates nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court. He secured the highest support among his peers, receiving 18 votes, while other candidates received between 8 and 13 votes.
Political Opposition and Judicial Controversy
The appointment faced significant backlash from PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński and other party figures. The opposition centered on Kapiński’s participation in a 2000 lustration trial involving Lech Wałęsa, which critics argue disqualifies him from the highest judicial office.
Kapiński also faces the label of a “neo-judge” due to his appointment to the Supreme Court following a recommendation by the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) formed after 2017 reforms. While supporters like Małgorzata Manowska defend his judicial independence, critics continue to question the legitimacy of the process that led to his placement on the bench.