Polish justice chief denies judge’s dismissal was retaliation for ruling against ex-official.
Controversy Over Removal
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek addressed Judge Dariusz Łubowski’s removal as head of the International Criminal Proceedings Section at the Warsaw District Court in a Wednesday Radio Zet interview. The removal, announced Tuesday by KRS Chair Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka who called it harassment, followed Łubowski’s December ruling lifting a European Arrest Warrant against former deputy justice minister and PiS MP Marcin Romanowski.
Organizational Problems
Żurek stated the section had not functioned properly for years but denied he interfered, attributing the issue to court organization. He dismissed any link to Łubowski’s ruling declaring a “cryptodictatorship” in Poland. The minister argued the one-person structure was unsuitable for a major court, especially regarding European arrest warrants, citing potential disruption during leave or illness.
Issues with Case Assignment and Financial Impact
The minister said the section’s problems persisted for years, with changes aimed at improving efficiency. He questioned how random case assignment (via SLPS system) worked when one judge handled all cases of a type in the capital. KRS Chair Pawełczyk-Woicka later shared a scan of a letter from Warsaw District Court President Beata Najjar, dated February 10, revoking Łubowski’s position and his functional allowance.
Hearing Before KRS and Judge’s Allegations
Last week, Łubowski testified before the KRS, claiming he was summoned by Warsaw District Court’s Criminal Department Chair Magdalena Wójcik after the ruling. She stated she lost trust in him and, upon his refusal to resign, informed him she would request his removal. He also alleged unprecedented prosecutorial pressure in the Justice Fund abuse case, citing a 2025 call discussing his European Arrest Warrant decision.
The judge described the August 2025 prosecutor’s call—proposing a meeting with another prosecutor—as unprecedented in his 30-year career, viewing it as an attempt to influence the case.
Prosecutor’s Response to Accusations
The prosecutor’s office responded, stating the contact was purely technical regarding the European Arrest Warrant’s procedural format in an unusual situation where the section head decided acceptance. Prosecutors emphasized the call concerned no substantive issues, as no case judge had been appointed, and aimed solely to prevent procedural misunderstandings.