The Ministry of Justice, headed by Waldemar Żurek, plans to spend nearly PLN 4.5 million. On what? So that two flags, the Polish flag and the European Union flag, will appear in courtrooms across Poland. “Justice is not repaired with flags. It is repaired with respect for people’s work and real reforms,” comments Judge Kamila Borszowska-Moszowska.
The Polish justice system faces many problems, including heavy caseloads for judges, lengthy proceedings, staffing shortages, low salaries for court employees, and political issues.
However, the Ministry of Justice plans to spend nearly PLN 4.5 million on it. What will it involve?
“The Ministry of Justice wants two flags, the Polish and the EU, placed in courtrooms across Poland next to the coat of arms of the Republic of Poland starting from May 1, 2026,”
reports the portal prawo.pl.
This follows from a draft amendment to the Regulations governing the operation of common courts, which is currently at the consultation stage.
The obligation applies to all courts, and their directors must ensure that courtrooms are arranged this way by May 1, 2026. The exception will apply to rooms whose size does not allow the placement of flags. The ministry estimates that more than 5,000 courtrooms across Poland will need to be decorated, and the cost of purchasing the flags will reach PLN 4.42 million.
“Justice cannot be repaired with flags”
According to judges, the decorative measures introduced by the Minister of Justice distract attention from the real problems of the judiciary.
“The problem of Polish courts has never been the lack of flags. The problem is dramatically low salaries for court employees, staff shortages, overloaded caseloads, and the undermining of judges’ status. In Poland, judgments are issued in the name of the Republic of Poland, as the Constitution states. And no additional flag will change that,”
assessed Judge Kamila Borszowska-Moszowska from the association Lawyers for Poland.
“If we truly want to improve the functioning of the courts, then instead of spending public money on symbolism, we must finally invest in the people who keep this system alive every day because justice cannot be repaired with flags. It is repaired with respect for people’s work and real reforms,”
she added.
“Unconstitutional, stupid, and unnecessary. “Cool Poles” have come to power, but the courts are too serious a matter to implement the whims of a group full of complexes. I will not enter a courtroom where the symbols of this or any other international organization are displayed,”
said Judge Łukasz Piebiak.
“There are no Polish flags in courtrooms, yet EU flags are to be placed there. Is the minister also planning to change the Constitution by regulation? Will we bow to the EU when entering a court, and will judges deliver judgments in the name of the EU?”
asks the chair of the National Council of the Judiciary, Judge Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka.
Article 174 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland
Courts and tribunals issue judgments in the name of the Republic of Poland.