Supreme Court of Poland challenges National Prosecutor's authority

The Supreme Court of Poland has issued a final ruling to dismiss disciplinary proceedings against prosecutor Jakub Romelczyk, citing the invalid authority of the disciplinary spokesperson involved. The court determined that the appointment of the spokesperson was ineffective because the recommendation process was conducted by Dariusz Korneluk, whereas the court recognized Dariusz Barski as the legitimate National Prosecutor.

This ruling has immediate implications for the Polish prosecution service. Legal experts and officials suggest that numerous other disciplinary proceedings initiated by spokespersons appointed under the current leadership may lack legal standing. Because the Minister of Justice relies on recommendations from the National Prosecutor to appoint ad hoc spokespersons, the court's recognition of Barski over Korneluk challenges the legal validity of recent administrative actions taken by the Ministry of Justice.

Following the verdict, a disciplinary hearing against Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski was postponed until October 20 to allow the court to consider the impact of the Supreme Court's decision. The dispute stems from a long-standing conflict regarding the legal basis for reinstating Dariusz Barski and the subsequent appointment of Dariusz Korneluk by the government.