The disciplinary chamber of the Polish Supreme Court has denied a critical judge from Warsaw his immunity from prosecution. Judge Igor Tuleya has repeatedly spoken out against the rule of law reforms implemented by the Nationalist government. Tuleya is faced with various disciplinary cases that often have to do with critical statements about Polish politics.
The disciplinary chamber of the Polish Supreme Court is controversial. The European Court of Justice said in April this year that the independence and impartiality of the disciplinary chamber is at stake because the government has a significant influence on the choice of judges. That is why the work of the chamber must be suspended, the European court decided, but that has not been heeded.
Quarrel with the EU about the rule of law
The ruling against Tuleya comes at a time when the quarrel between Poland (along with Hungary) and the EU over the violation of the rule of law has run high. The other 25 European member states want to exclude the two countries from subsidies and corona support if they do not restore independent jurisdiction.
Tuleya said in response to the disciplinary chamber’s ruling that he will just go back to work tomorrow, although he can face charges.
The government has said from the outset that judicial reforms are necessary to increase the effectiveness of the judiciary and to do away with the last vestiges of the communist era.
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