President Karol Nawrocki has appointed Judge Zbigniew Kapiński as the new First President of the Supreme Court, presidential spokesman Rafał Leśkiewicz announced, confirming earlier reports by Telewizja Republika. The nomination has sparked controversy because Kapiński took part in the 2000 court proceedings that “cleared” Lech Wałęsa of allegations that he had collaborated with the communist-era secret police.
The term of office of current First President of the Supreme Court Małgorzata Manowska expires on Tuesday, May 26. At the end of February, the General Assembly of Supreme Court judges selected five candidates for the position and submitted their names to President Nawrocki. The candidates were: Paweł Czubik, Tomasz Demendecki, Zbigniew Kapiński, Aleksander Stępkowski, and Mariusz Załucki. Earlier today, Telewizja Republika reported that Judge Kapiński would become the new head of the Supreme Court.
The information was later confirmed by the presidential spokesman.
Judge Kapiński remains a controversial choice because of his role in the lustration trial of Lech Wałęsa. A detailed analysis by Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz was recently published by Niezalezna.pl. The publication focused on the 2000 ruling that “cleared” Wałęsa of accusations of cooperation with the communist Security Service (SB). Kapiński was one of the judges involved in that case.
Rafał Leśkiewicz also addressed the issue during his remarks. He stressed that President Karol Nawrocki made the decision independently, concluding that Judge Kapiński was a suitable person to serve as First President of the Supreme Court.
“Allegations concerning Mr. Kapiński have appeared in the media space (…) This is a matter from 26 years ago. Today, in 2026, there is no doubt that Lech Wałęsa was a secret collaborator of the communist security services under the codename ‘Bolek.’ There is extensive evidence proving this. We possess that evidence today. In 2016, prosecutors from the Institute of National Remembrance seized original files confirming Lech Wałęsa’s cooperation,” Leśkiewicz said, suggesting that “in 2000 the court did not have access to the documents that are available today.”