Suspension at the Warsaw tribunal
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal announced on October 30 that its chief, Bogdan Święczkowski, had been suspended. The decision came amid a confrontation over who can direct the tribunal and whether newly appointed judges can begin work. Gazeta.pl reported that Anna Korwin-Piotrowska issued suspension orders concerning both Święczkowski and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochański. She invoked a provision of the law governing ordinary courts. The authority to exercise control over the tribunal remains contested.[1], [2]
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said he had requested the removal of immunity from the court chief and his deputy. He accused the leadership of preventing judges selected by the current parliamentary majority from performing their duties for six months. The immunity request concerns alleged failures to fulfil official responsibilities. Korwin-Piotrowska, who has been placed in charge of the tribunal, is herself among the judges whom President Karol Nawrocki refused to swear into office.[1]