Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Poland's President Halts Judicial Appointments Amid Reform Clash
Imagine Poland's government wants to change its judges to make sure they are fair.
But the President, who also has a say in who becomes a judge, disagrees with the government's plan.
He has decided not to approve new judges or promote existing ones if they question other judges who were appointed under a previous system.
He believes judges should just do their job and follow the law, not worry about who appointed whom.
The government says the President is overstepping his authority and using this as an excuse to interfere with the courts.
This disagreement could make it hard for the government to change the judicial system as they intended.
Poland's president, Karol Nawrocki, will block judicial appointments and promotions of judges who question the status of colleagues appointed under previous government reforms.
Nawrocki refused to nominate 46 judges on Wednesday, citing concerns that judges are debating legitimacy instead of focusing on rulings.
The pro-European government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has been trying to roll back judicial reforms implemented by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government.
Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek suggested the president might be overstepping his constitutional powers.
Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka stated that judges have the right to question each other and accused the president of using this as a pretext to question judicial independence.
- Who
- Poland's President Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government, and the judiciary.
- What
- President Nawrocki announced he will refuse to nominate or promote judges who question the legitimacy of colleagues appointed under controversial reforms, potentially hindering government efforts to reform the judiciary.
- When
- Wednesday.
- Where
- Poland.
- Why
- President Nawrocki stated that judges should not question each other's legitimacy but focus on issuing verdicts in line with the constitution. The government views this as a pretext to undermine judicial independence.
President Nawrocki
Government
Questioning Judicial Appointments
President Nawrocki
Judges who question the constitutional and legal order of Poland should not be promoted or nominated. Judges should focus on issuing verdicts in line with the constitution and law, not debate the legitimacy of their colleagues' appointments ('neo' vs. 'paleo' judges).
Government
Judges have the right to question the status of other judges. The president's actions are a pretext to question judicial independence and impartiality.
Presidential Authority
President Nawrocki
The president has the power to nominate and promote judges and is refusing to do so for those who question the status of colleagues appointed under contested reforms.
Government
The president may be attempting to wield powers not granted to him by the constitution.
- President of Poland
- Karol Nawrocki
- Prime Minister of Poland
- Donald Tusk
- Justice Minister
- Waldemar Zurek
- Government Spokesperson
- Adam Szlapka
- Contested Reform Year
- 2018
- Number of Judges Refused Nomination
- 46
- Total Judges Affected by Reforms
- Approx. 2,500