“I will never agree to the division of judges into neo-judges and paleo-judges. Judges are those who, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, are nominated by each successive President of the Republic of Poland,” said President Karol Nawrocki during the ceremony of presenting judicial and assessor appointments.
Today at 11:00 a.m., President Karol Nawrocki began the ceremony of presenting judicial and assessor appointments.
Amid the enormous chaos in the Polish judiciary – first caused by Adam Bodnar and continued by Waldemar Żurek – President Karol Nawrocki once again declared that he would stand firmly behind judges persecuted by the current ruling coalition.
“I will not agree to this”
Almost at the beginning of his speech, the President stated that “there is no other law in Poland than the law based on the Constitution and statutes. Any sub-statutory regulations, decrees, or ordinances issued by people who believe they can shape the legal order outside the law do not bind the state or those who faithfully serve the Republic.” He added that it is natural for judges to interpret the law in their work, “but always based on the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and specific statutes,” he told the judges and assessors.
He continued, saying: “To serve the Republic of Poland faithfully – these are the words that have echoed through this hall several times today. […] Only those who know Poland and the Republic can serve it faithfully. Those who understand how our national community was built, on what foundations, from what the Republic arises, what Poles have worked for over generations, what they have died for, and which symbols are important to us. Today, one of those symbols has just been handed to you – a beautiful crowned eagle.”
“To serve the Republic faithfully can only be done by those who either love it or at least respect it. To serve the Republic faithfully in the 21st century, in the year 2025, one must also respect the legal order of the Republic, especially as a judge or assessor who helps build the Polish judiciary. And that legal order is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and on statutes,” said the head of state.
Referring to the narrative promoted by the December 13 Team suggesting that some Polish judges are “neo-judges,” the President firmly stated that he does not accept such lawlessness.
“I do not agree that the law should be interpreted by politicians as they see fit. That is not the promise of law, but the promise of sheer lawlessness. For there is only one law and one Constitution. And if someone says that we will apply the law as we imagine it, that heralds lawlessness – something I will never agree to,” he said.
He also announced that “I will never agree to the division of judges into neo-judges and paleo-judges. Judges are those who, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, are nominated by each successive President of the Republic of Poland.”
“And so I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, never let anyone convince you that there are any categories of neo- or paleo-judges among you. That concept does not exist, it has no place, and we will never agree to it,” concluded the President.