The Internal Affairs Division of the National Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding judgments issued by former judge Waldemar Żurek, Niezalezna.pl has learned. An earlier decision not to initiate an investigation was overturned by a court, which ordered the case to proceed. Żurek, now the Minister of Justice, has already been questioned in the case. In a twist, the investigation is being handled by prosecutor Anna Kaniak – the same official managing another case initiated by Żurek himself.
Multiple Judgments Under Scrutiny
The case concerns events from several years ago – specifically, dozens of rulings issued by the Kraków District Court in which Waldemar Żurek sat as a judge.
“The first steps in the case were taken ex officio on November 19, 2021, when then-head of the Internal Affairs Division, Adam Gierk, formally contacted the Disciplinary Spokesperson for Common Court Judges, Piotr Schab, to inquire whether any spokesperson was conducting explanatory proceedings regarding Judge Waldemar Żurek’s conduct – namely, his simultaneous participation in meetings of the National Council of the Judiciary and court sessions,” confirmed today by prosecutor Przemysław Nowak, spokesperson for the National Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Court Overrules Initial Refusal to Investigate
Niezalezna.pl has found that in March 2024, prosecutor Anna Mazurek issued a decision to refuse launching an investigation, citing a lack of evidence of a criminal offense.
That decision was appealed by the Deputy Disciplinary Spokesperson for Common Court Judges. The Katowice-Wschód District Court upheld the complaint, overturned the prosecutor’s decision, and ordered the case to be pursued.
This occurred in early January 2025.
The Investigation Progresses
More than half a year has now passed. When the outlet followed up, it confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, now under case number 1001-14.Ds.3.2025 at the Internal Affairs Division.
“It concerns the falsification of documents, namely judgments of the Kraków District Court, by an identified judge – particularly in relation to the date the rulings were issued,” said prosecutor Nowak.
“Several witnesses have been interviewed, including Judge Waldemar Żurek,” he confirmed.
“Extensive documentation related to the civil cases under investigation is still being collected and analyzed,” he added.
A Curious Situation
The case is also unusual for another reason. Niezalezna.pl has learned that the prosecutor currently in charge of the investigation is Anna Kaniak.
“After the case files were received from the court, the matter was registered at the National Prosecutor’s Office on January 20, 2025. It was then assigned to prosecutor Anna Kaniak, who on January 21, 2025, issued a decision to initiate an investigation and remains the case officer,” confirmed Nowak.
Why is this unusual? Because prosecutor Kaniak is also handling a different case – this time initiated by Waldemar Żurek himself. As reported last week, Żurek is seeking the prosecution of Supreme Court judge Maria Szczepaniec.
A hearing took place on July 21, attended by Kaniak and two of Żurek’s legal representatives.
“It was four hours of brutal, oppressive attacks,” Judge Szczepaniec told Niezalezna.pl.
“I’m a lawyer, so I can handle these kinds of situations, but the manner of the questioning deeply disturbed me. Now I understand what Barbara Skrzypek must have felt.”
The Judge Becomes Minister
The disciplinary case regarding Żurek’s conduct was previously overseen by Judge Michał Lasota, Deputy Disciplinary Spokesperson for Common Court Judges. The case files were seized during a raid on the National Council of the Judiciary headquarters in July of last year. The case was later dismissed by an ad hoc disciplinary spokesperson appointed by Justice Minister Adam Bodnar.
“I fully support the position taken by the district court in overturning the prosecutor’s decision. In my opinion, Judge Waldemar Żurek was not present in court at the time the rulings – bearing his participation – were made,” Judge Lasota told Niezalezna.pl.
Less than a week later, Żurek was appointed Minister of Justice and simultaneously Prosecutor General.
“The fact that Waldemar Żurek resigned from his post as a judge and assumed the role of Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General does not affect the scheduled procedural steps in the case,” prosecutor Przemysław Nowak assured.