Sejm adopts an amendment to court laws

The Sejm passed an amendment to court laws on Friday afternoon, which provides, inter alia, changes in the system of disciplinary liability of judges and modification of the election procedure for the first president of the Supreme Court.

The amendment, among others The law on the structure of common courts and the Supreme Court, as well as on administrative and military courts and the prosecutor's office introduces disciplinary liability of judges for acts or omissions that may prevent or significantly impede the functioning of the judiciary, for actions questioning the effectiveness of the appointment of a judge and for “public activities incompatible with principles of the independence of the courts and the independence of judges.” The changes included in the draft also apply to the Supreme Court. It regards, among others for extending the competence of the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs to settle cases in the event of a challenge to the status of a judge or his right to administer justice. The resolution of these matters will belong exclusively to the Chamber of Extraordinary Control.

The new rules are criticized by the opposition and part of the judicial community. Negative legal opinions on some of the solutions proposed in the draft were sent to the Sejm by the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court and the Bureau of Sejm Analysis. Also, spokesman of the European Commission Christian Wigand informed on Friday at noon that the European Commission asked in a letter to the president, prime minister, Sejm, and Senate marshals to suspend work on the draft amendment until consultations.
The amendment will now go to the Senate.

(PAP)