Just before the trial concerning the Justice Fund, in which Father Michał Olszewski is the defendant, was due to begin, an absurd situation arose. The jurors selected by lot are unable to hear the case because they have other hearings scheduled on the planned dates. A frantic search for replacements has begun. “The defense has serious doubts,” admits attorney Adam Gomoła.
Court proceedings in the Justice Fund case, in which Father Michał Olszewski was subjected to pre-trial detention, are expected to commence soon. The priest has announced that he will fight for acquittal, but the very organization of the trial already raises numerous concerns. As attorney Adam Gomoła reported, the case will be heard by jurors individually designated by the President of the Warsaw Regional Court. They will replace those who were originally selected through a random draw.
It turned out that the jurors drawn by lot have other hearings that conflict with the scheduled dates.
Adam Gomoła: This Is an Embarrassing Situation
Yesterday on TV Republika, attorney Adam Gomoła once again openly voiced his disapproval of the situation.
“The defense has serious doubts on the eve of this trial, because this is a specific case. It is highly anticipated, attracts considerable public interest, and should meet all the standards of a fair trial. One of those standards is the immutability of the adjudicating panel. If, just a few days before the hearing, jurors are only then being sought to replace the nominal jurors, this situation raises doubts,”
Gomoła pointed out.
He added that an initial preparatory hearing, provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure and intended to organize the trial, should have taken place much earlier in this case.
“That is precisely when judges, jurors, and the parties check their schedules and set hearing dates. In this case, the dates were imposed on us, and we can see the result,”
Gomoła said.
“For me, this is an embarrassing situation, given the nature of the trial we are dealing with,”
the attorney concluded.