Poland: Majority of citizens criticize judicial system in CBOS poll

A survey conducted by CBOS reveals that a majority of Poles hold a negative view of the national judiciary. According to the results, 61% of respondents rated the functioning of the justice system unfavorably, with 39% choosing ‘rather poorly’ and 22% choosing ‘definitely poorly.’ In contrast, only 26% of those surveyed provided a positive assessment.

Respondents identified several systemic issues contributing to this dissatisfaction, including delays, lack of timeliness in proceedings, insufficient numbers of judges, and general disorganization. The study also noted significant demographic and political divides in these perceptions. Men, residents of large cities, and individuals at both the lowest and highest income levels expressed more critical views. Politically, supporters of the ruling coalition (Civic Coalition and New Left) viewed the system more positively, while voters for opposition parties, such as PiS and Confederation, were more skeptical.

Regarding judicial independence, the survey found that 50% of respondents felt judges are sometimes independent and sometimes not. Only 18% believed judges are independent when presiding over cases, while 21% expressed a contrary view. Additionally, 49% of respondents stated they have neither a positive nor a negative attitude toward judges.