Warsaw court rejects judges' appeals against Nawrocki's promotion denials

judicial appointments Karol Nawrocki administrative court constitutional law Poland judiciary

The Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw has rejected complaints filed by judges regarding the refusal of their promotions by President Karol Nawrocki. The court ruled that the act of appointing a judge is a presidential prerogative, stating that the President of Poland acts independently in this matter under the Constitution.

In November, President Nawrocki announced he would not nominate 46 judges to higher courts, citing concerns that they question the constitutional and legal order of the Republic. He specifically criticized judges who follow the guidance of Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek and indicated that such judges would not receive nominations for the next five years.

Many of the bypassed judges had previously signed an appeal in 2021 regarding the implementation of rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The legal dispute is expected to continue as some judges have appealed the court's decision to the Supreme Administrative Court.