Disciplinary proceedings against judges and prosecutors

Since 2015, Poland has been facing an ongoing constitutional crisis which affects the work and position of the judiciary. The numerous legal changes concerning the work of the courts (from top-rank courts such as the Constitutional Tribunal and the Supreme Court to common courts) as well as prosecution were accompanied by smear campaigns and attacks against judges and certain prosecutors.

Over last year, media reported on several examples of disciplinary proceedings launched against judges of the common courts in Poland. In all of these cases, the disciplinary proceedings are launched against judges and prosecutors who were vocal critics of the reform of the judiciary in Poland or made decisions unfavourable from the perspective of the governing majority.

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights collected information on disciplinary proceedings and examples of such proceedings from recent months. It is available here.