Independence of the Judiciary Threatened in Poland

On July 14, 2017, the UIA was taken aback by the Polish Bar Council concerning the serious threats to the independence of the judicial system in Poland.

On July 12, two acts were presented to and approved by the parliament of Poland concerning the National Judicial Council and the system of common courts. These new laws introduce total control of the judiciary by the executive and the parliamentary majority because among other things, the presidents of the courts will now be appointed by the Minister of Justice. The current judges of the Supreme Court should also be removed from office to be replaced by those appointed by the Minister of Justice.

The UIA joins the Polish and international legal community in denouncing these serious attacks on the independence of the Polish judiciary. In a letter to the President of the Polish Republic Andrzej Duda and Prime Minster Beata Szydlo, the UIA expressed its concerns about the threats posed by these laws to the rule of law and to Polish democracy.

The UIA has called for all necessary measures to repeal these laws and restore the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.