Polish Judges' Association Outraged by Ministry of Justice Delegation Decisions

The Association of Polish Judges "Iustitia" has voiced strong objections to recent decisions made by the Ministry of Justice concerning the delegation of judges to higher courts. In a statement issued on April 30th, the "Iustitia" board asserts that these decisions continue to fall short of the standards for protecting judicial independence, as mandated by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in its November 16, 2021 ruling. This ruling specifically addressed Poland's system of delegating judges and their subsequent removal at any time without justification by the Minister of Justice, deeming it incompatible with the EU's requirement for judicial impartiality.

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Decyzje Ministerstwa Sprawiedliwości w przedmiocie delegowania sędziów do orzekania w sądach wyższego rzędu w dalszym ciągu nie zapewniają standardów ochrony niezawisłości sędziowskiej określonych w wyroku Trybunału Sprawiedliwości UE z 16 listopada 2021 roku (sprawy C‑748/19 do C‑754/19).

"Iustitia" expresses growing dismay over what it describes as the arbitrary, chaotic, and frequently changing nature of these delegation decisions. The association notes that these changes can occur not over days, but sometimes within hours, raising serious questions about the substantive merit and organizational efficiency behind them. The ability to serve in a higher court is often a crucial aspect of a judge's professional development and is vital for supporting overburdened courts, thereby contributing to the efficiency of legal proceedings. "Iustitia" contends that such opportunities should not be subject to the whims of unspecified individuals making decisions for inexplicable reasons.

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Decyzje podejmowane z niewytłumaczalnych powodów przez bliżej nieokreślone osoby

The association is once again appealing for urgent work to systematically regulate the laws governing judge delegations. They insist that all such decisions must be subject to judicial review and based on objective criteria and a thorough analysis of the actual workload of specific courts. Furthermore, "Iustitia" deems it absolutely essential that decisions to refuse or revoke delegations, or to not extend them, are accompanied by comprehensive justifications. This call for transparency and adherence to established legal principles is critical for upholding the rule of law and ensuring the independence of the judiciary in Poland, a principle that remains a cornerstone of Poland's commitment to the European Union.

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podjęcie i pilne zakończenie prac zmierzających do systemowego uregulowania przepisów o delegacjach tak, by wszystkie te decyzje podlegały sądowej kontroli oraz były dokonywane w oparciu o merytoryczne kryteria i rzetelną analizę faktycznego obciążenia konkretnych sądów