Former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro claimed a court had ruled on his prison order before a trial even began, arguing the decision was politically motivated and part of a broader drift toward lawlessness in Poland.
Arrest Hearing for Zbigniew Ziobro
On 22 December, the Warsaw‑Mokotów district court was set to consider the prosecution’s request for a one‑month prison order against former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro. Ziobro spoke to the newspaper “Super Express”, asserting that a verdict had already been issued before the trial started. Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly announced that Ziobro would be either in prison or in Budapest. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said authorities needed “trusted judges”. In the courts, random case allocation was abolished; several judges were removed; and terms of legally appointed court presidents were suspended.
Claims of Judicial Manipulation
Ziobro alleged that the ruling coalition illicitly seized control of the National Prosecution, preventing him from filing an appeal to a functioning national prosecutor and thereby denying a fair trial. He maintained that although not all judges were biased, the authorities had acquired illegal instruments of pressure on every significant case, a mechanism that also affected ordinary citizens.
Timing of the Hearing
Ziobro said the hearing was scheduled for 22 December in order to make the case headline‑making during the holiday period. He claimed that a judge from the “Iustitia” group had, before reviewing the evidence, ordered a police escort, indicating bias. He noted the verdict was reportedly issued more than a month before the court session, aligning with Tusk’s public statements.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition MP Witold Zembaczyński dismissed Ziobro’s claims, saying he lies about the judge selection system, which he claims operates selectively and is unrelated to the arrest. Zembaczyński referenced the governor of Masovian Voivodeship’s decision to annul Ziobro’s passport at the protester’s request, limiting his travel to the Schengen area. Ziobro is currently in Hungary and cannot travel far because his passport has been revoked.
Justice Fund Charges
The prosecution intends to press 26 charges against Ziobro related to irregularities in disbursements from the Justice Fund. As justice minister, Ziobro allegedly oversaw the misappropriation of these funds and was accused of organizing and directing a criminal group. He faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
