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Poland President Nawrocki appoints four Supreme Court judges amid criticism
On 28 July, President Karol Nawrocki handed out appointment acts for four new judges of the Polish Supreme Court. The appointees – Paweł Bucoń, Paweł Chmielnicki, Andrzej Michałowicz and Tomasz Szczurowski – took the oath before the President.
The nominations were announced earlier by Zbigniew Bogucki, who also said the President would appoint 211 regional‑court assessors and 18 provincial‑administrative‑court assessors. The President later delivered acts for a trio of new regional‑court assessors in Ostrołęka.
Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek criticised the move, calling the four judges “neosędzi” (non‑judges) and asking who will pay the compensation ordered by the European Court of Human Rights for cases handled by judges appointed after 2018. Żurek’s remarks highlight the ongoing judicial crisis in Poland linked to disputes over the National Council of the Judiciary and European Court rulings that decisions by such “neosędzi” breach fair‑trial rights.
Entities
European Court of Human Rights · Karol Nawrocki · Paweł Bucoń · Supreme Court of Poland · Supreme Court of Poland · Sławomir Patyra · Waldemar Żurek · Zbigniew Bogucki
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Żurek questioned who will pay compensation ordered by the European Court of Human Rights for cases handled by improperly appointed judges. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] The four judges were selected by the previous composition of the National Council of the Judiciary, which the current government regards as politicised. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said the appointments will deepen the judicial crisis. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Karol Nawrocki will appoint four new neo‑judges to the Supreme Court on 28 July. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that decisions by these neo‑judges breach fair‑trial rights, leading to compensation obligations for Poland. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [DISPUTED] Zbigniew Bogucki announced that Nawrocki will also swear in Prof. Sławomir Patyry to the Constitutional Tribunal and nominate more than 200 regional court assessors and 18 provincial administrative‑c razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] The four appointees are described as “neosędzi” (non‑judges) by critics. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek criticized the appointments, saying they deepen the judicial crisis. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] Nawrocki also plans to swear in Prof. Sławomir Patyra as a Constitutional Tribunal judge. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] More than 200 assessors for regional courts and 18 assessors for provincial administrative courts are also slated for appointment. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek asked who will pay compensation ordered by the European Court of Human Rights for cases handled by improperly appointed judges. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl · polityka.co.pl
- [● 3 SOURCES] The European Court of Human Rights has previously ordered Poland to pay compensation for judgments delivered by “neosędzi”. razydzisiaj.pl · www.wprost.pl