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Judge Starosta: I criticized abuses and that will not change
🇵🇱 Poland /Crime & Justice

Judge Starosta: I criticized abuses and that will not change

From Rzeczpospolita · () Polish

Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Sources not specified New plan
  • Bartłomiej Starosta has begun a new term on the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) and anticipates a heavy workload filling approximately 900 judicial vacancies.
  • He dismissed criticism from fellow KRS member Łukasz Piebiak, stating that the judicial community and citizens are aware of their respective reputations.
  • Starosta, previously critical of the former KRS, will now voice criticism within the council itself, acknowledging his role as deputy spokesperson limits public commentary.

Bartłomiej Starosta has taken on a new term as a member of Poland's National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), bracing for a significant workload. He anticipates the council will need to conduct numerous competitions to fill around 900 vacant judicial positions, a process aimed at shortening court proceedings for the benefit of citizens. However, Starosta expressed concern that these efforts might be in vain if the president withholds nominations, leaving the vacancies unfilled.

We expect that there will be a lot of work.

— Bartłomiej StarostaStarosta anticipates a heavy workload in his new term on the National Council of the Judiciary.

Starosta remained unfazed by recent remarks from fellow KRS member Łukasz Piebiak, who had called him a "hater" during a council session. Starosta asserted that the vast majority of the judicial community and the public are well aware of their respective characters and that Piebiak's attempts to create a "parallel world" have no impact on him. The council has formed a special five-person team to investigate Piebiak's status within the KRS, with a decision expected soon.

Every state organ must perform its competences responsibly.

— Bartłomiej StarostaStarosta commented on the responsibilities of state bodies regarding judicial appointments.

Previously known for his critical stance on the former KRS, Starosta stated that his approach will now shift. As a member of the current council, he intends to voice his criticisms directly within its forums. He also acknowledged that his position as deputy spokesperson for the KRS somewhat limits his ability to express personal opinions publicly, as it would be difficult to separate private views from official statements.

I absolutely did not.

— Bartłomiej StarostaStarosta responded to being called a 'hater' by fellow KRS member Łukasz Piebiak.

Starosta reiterated his commitment to scrutinizing any abuses within the judiciary, a stance he held when criticizing the previous KRS, which he deemed illegally constituted and harmful to the judicial system. He emphasized that the current KRS was formed differently, with thirteen judicial members chosen by their peers and confirmed by the Sejm. He stressed the need to rectify the "eight years of harmful activity" of the previous council while ensuring no new abuses occur, despite the existing legal framework.

I criticized abuses and that will not change.

— Bartłomiej StarostaStarosta affirmed his commitment to addressing misconduct within the judiciary.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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