Prosecutors seek to disqualify another judge in Zbigniew Ziobro case

Prosecutors in Poland are seeking to disqualify another judge from a case involving former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, citing concerns about impartiality. The latest request targets Judge Dariusz Drajewicz, who was recently assigned to review an appeal related to Ziobro's case.

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The key argument for disqualifying Drajewicz is the course of his professional career.

The core of the prosecution's argument rests on Judge Drajewicz's career trajectory. Before his current role, he served in higher courts through delegations granted by Zbigniew Ziobro himself when he led the Justice Ministry. Prosecutors also highlight that Drajewicz was appointed to the Warsaw Court of Appeal through a process involving the National Council of the Judiciary, whose reforms since 2017 have been questioned by various European courts. Drajewicz also served as the deputy chairman of this council.

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Before being appointed to the Warsaw Court of Appeal, Dariusz Drajewicz adjudicated in higher courts under delegations granted by the then-minister of justice, Zbigniew Ziobro.

Furthermore, the prosecution points to Ziobro's personal involvement in Drajewicz's appointment to the National Council of the Judiciary. Ziobro, then a member of the Law and Justice party, reportedly voted for the list of candidates that included Drajewicz. The prosecution argues these connections are significant in assessing the judge's potential bias and his relationship with the controversial changes made to the Polish judiciary.

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Judge Drajewicz was appointed to the Warsaw Court of Appeal through a procedure involving the National Council of the Judiciary, shaped after the 2017 changes, whose status has been repeatedly questioned in the rulings of the Supreme Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Court of Human Rights.