Polish courts lack 'judicial holidays' despite European practice

Despite the practice of "judicial holidays" in other European courts, Polish courts continue to operate under a system that maintains the appearance of full capacity, even during the summer months.

This approach contrasts with European standards, where "judicial holidays" and festive breaks are common. In Poland, the system often creates a facade of continuous operation. However, this is undermined by the reality of staff shortages, particularly in court secretariats and among judges, during the vacation season.

The consequence is that hundreds of issued judgments may remain unprocessed in active files simply because secretarial staff and a significant portion of judges are on leave. This situation negatively affects the functioning of court secretariats, which are expected to maintain full efficiency during the holiday season instead of operating on a reduced or duty basis.

Furthermore, the strain on remaining staff and the disruption to workflow also have a detrimental impact on the work of judges. The article suggests that while standards evolve, Polish courts have yet to adopt these beneficial practices, leading to inefficiencies and a disconnect from European norms.