Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska stripped Constitutional Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochański, of their powers on Friday, declaring a one-month suspension and assuming direct control of the institution. The decision followed a deadlock over the appointment of new judges whom Święczkowski refused to seat. Within hours, police cordoned off the court complex in Warsaw, arresting three individuals who attempted to breach the perimeter. Officers cited threats to judges and public order risks as justification for the heavy presence.
President Karol Nawrocki, a vocal ally of the US and the nationalist Law and Justice party, abandoned a diplomatic trip to Senegal to return to the capital. He labeled the suspension a “forcible takeover of a constitutional institution.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk pushed back on X, arguing his administration must take “decisive action” to restore the rule of law after eight years of PiS interference. “Shouting, lies, and brawling cannot be the source of law in Poland,” Tusk stated in a televised address.
The current standoff is the latest chapter in a conflict dating back to 2015, when PiS challenged judicial appointments made by the previous government. During its tenure, PiS expanded judicial controls, leading the European Commission to freeze EU funding in 2021 over “systemic risk to the rule of law.” In December 2025, the EU’s top court ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal failed to meet independence standards. Tusk returned to power in December 2023 with a mandate to reverse these changes, but Nawrocki’s refusal to swear in five of eight newly elected judges kept the bench in limbo.
Legal experts question the legitimacy of Korwin-Piotrowska’s move, noting her claim to authority relies on overall judicial service rather than seniority within the Tribunal. Marcin Matczak, a Polish lawyer, warned that deploying police in a court dispute sets a dangerous precedent for future governments. US Ambassador Tom Rose urged all parties to prevent escalation, noting that large crowds outside the Tribunal could ignite further violence. The standoff continues with no clear resolution in sight, as both sides dig in for a long legal and political battle.