“Matters concerning the rule of law, the courts, and the legal security of citizens are very important to the President and are the subject of his great, and, I believe, constant, concern,” Judge Przemysław Radzik, Deputy Disciplinary Spokesperson for Judges of the Ordinary Courts, told Niezalezna.pl. The judge was commenting on yesterday’s meeting with President Karol Nawrocki, which took place in the shadow of what he described as the scandalous intrusion by services subordinate to the current government into the headquarters of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS).
Yesterday, a key meeting was held at the Presidential Palace regarding unprecedented attacks on the independence of the judiciary. President Karol Nawrocki received the Chair of the National Council of the Judiciary, Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka, and then met with the lawful Disciplinary Spokespersons for Judges: Piotr Schab, Przemysław Radzik, and Michał Lasota.
The talks concerned the dramatic events of January 21, when prosecutors, accompanied by police officers, entered judges’ offices at the KRS headquarters and seized files from disciplinary proceedings.
“A great honor and a swift response”
Immediately after leaving the Presidential Palace, Judge Przemysław Radzik emphasized the significance of the head of state’s gesture in an interview with the portal.
“I want to say that this is a great honor. This meeting and the invitation from the President are a great honor for me as a judge and a citizen,”
Judge Radzik said.
The Deputy Disciplinary Spokesperson noted that the president’s initiative was a direct response to what he described as unlawful actions by the governing coalition.
“The meeting was a swift response by President Karol Nawrocki to the recent events in our office at 30 Rakowiecka Street, the forcible taking of files and my private documents by military prosecutors and the police officers accompanying them,”
the judge recounted.
The President is well-informed
According to Radzik’s account, President Karol Nawrocki demonstrates a deep understanding of the threats posed by the actions of the current leadership of the Ministry of Justice, now headed by Waldemar Żurek.
“The meeting with the President took place in a very good atmosphere. I would even venture to say in a cordial atmosphere,” said Przemysław Radzik.
“The President has an excellent grasp of matters concerning the judiciary. It was evident and could be felt throughout the conversation that issues of the rule of law, the courts, and the legal security of citizens are very important to him and are the subject of his great, and, I believe, constant, concern.”
According to Radzik, the President wanted to obtain information at the source, bypassing the narrative imposed by media outlets supportive of the government.
“In the conversation with us, the President wanted to obtain information and opinions directly from the Disciplinary Spokesperson for Judges of the Ordinary Courts and from us as his deputies. I believe we provided the President with comprehensive information about our activities, about this criminal operation, and about our future work,”
the judge added.
Background: Forcible Seizure of Files
It should be recalled that the actions of the prosecutors and police met with firm resistance from the Presidium of the National Council of the Judiciary. In a resolution adopted on Monday, the KRS described last week’s events as an “intrusion” and authorized its Chair to file a notification to the prosecutor’s office.
The current authorities, continuing actions initiated earlier by Minister Adam Bodnar, are attempting to remove Judges Schab, Radzik, and Lasota from their positions. However, in its resolution, the Presidium of the KRS clearly stated the “invalidity and ineffectiveness” of these dismissals, deeming them to have been carried out “without legal basis and ultra vires (beyond competence).” The actions of the prosecutors were assessed as an attempt by unauthorized persons to obtain files, infringing the constitutional independence of the KRS.
They will continue their work
Despite the pressure and use of force, the disciplinary spokespersons do not intend to back down, as Judge Radzik assured President Nawrocki.
“We certainly assured the President that we will continue our work and will carry out our duties for the good of the citizens and the state,”
Judge Przemysław Radzik declared.