The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Wednesday ruled that Poland must immediately suspend the disciplinary chamber of its Supreme Court over concerns about its independence. This move is the latest blow in a years-long row between the European Commission and Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party over the latter’s attempts to bulldoze the independence of state institutions capable of enforcing checks and balances.
Earlier this year in January, the Commission asked the ECJ to take immediate action, arguing that the chamber was not up to the EU’s standards of judicial independence, due to its politically-motivated appointments and its power to prosecute judges who criticize the government. The court approved the request on Wednesday, stating that this disciplinary system “is likely to cause serious and irreparable harm” to legal order in the EU.
Poland now has one month to comply with the order, or risk the imposition of substantial daily fines by the ECJ. However, Polish officials responded with contempt, signaling that they might not follow the court’s order. Sebastian Kaleta, a deputy justice minister tweeted that the ECJ had no right to suspend constitutional organs of member states and that the act violated Poland’s sovereignty.
Image Source: Emerging Europe
European Court Orders Suspension of Polish Disciplinary Panel for Judges
It is the latest blow in a years-long row between the EU and PiS over rule of law concerns
April 10, 2020
