The Sejm Justice Committee has established a list of 15 judge candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) for the 2026-2030 term. In a Tuesday session, 18 committee members voted in favor of the list, while two voted against, with no abstentions.
The vote proceeded without discussion following a request from the committee’s deputy chairman, Maciej Tomczykiewicz of the Civic Coalition (KO). The full Sejm is scheduled to vote on the committee’s recommended list this Friday, May 15.
Candidate Selection and Political Alliances
All parliamentary clubs provided candidates, with 17 nominations submitted from a total of 60 registered in the Sejm. The governing coalition divided its support across several groups: three candidates were jointly nominated by KO, the Left, Centrum, PSL-Third Way and Polska 2050.
six candidates were jointly nominated by KO, the Left, and Centrum, while another six were supported by PSL-Third Way and Polska 2050. These 15 coalition-backed judges were selected through opinions provided by judicial assemblies across the country.
This selection method was described as “Plan B” by the governing parties. It was implemented after a presidential veto blocked a legislative amendment that would have returned the election of the KRS judicial component to the judicial community.
Controversy Surrounding Łukasz Piebiak
The nomination of Łukasz Piebiak by the Law and Justice (PiS) party has sparked significant debate. Piebiak is a former deputy justice minister who served under Zbigniew Ziobro and is described by Ewa Ivanova of Wyborcza.pl as a “symbolic figure” and a “main architect” of judicial changes during the PiS administration.
Piebiak resigned in 2019 following the emergence of the so-called “hater affair.” Reports indicated that a group within Ziobro’s ministry conducted campaigns to discredit judges who opposed the government’s judicial reforms, with Piebiak allegedly playing a key role.
Sławomir Ćwik of the Centrum party stated that the nomination shows PiS “cannot distance itself from the bad things” done under Ziobro. However, Ćwik noted that the party would likely be forced to vote for the candidacy to respect existing law.
Legal Standoff and PiS Boycott
PiS members of parliament refused to participate in the committee’s vote, citing a Tuesday protective order from the Constitutional Tribunal. This order instructed the Sejm to halt the selection of KRS judges.
The tribunal’s action follows a February request by PiS lawmakers to examine whether the current rules reduce the Sejm’s role to a mere “notary” that simply approves decisions made by the judicial community. PiS MP Sebastian Kaleta argued that the tribunal has ordered all further work to be stopped.
In response, Committee Chairman Paweł Śliz of Polska 2050 claimed that PiS is attempting to use its judges to block the work of the Sejm. Depending on the tribunal’s final ruling, the selection process could face further legal challenges or delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the final vote on the KRS candidates take place?
The Sejm is scheduled to vote on the list of candidates this Friday, May 15.
Who are the candidates nominated by PiS and Konfederacja?
PiS nominated Łukasz Piebiak, a former deputy justice minister. Konfederacja nominated Łukasz Zawadzki, a judge from Opole associated with the Prawnicy dla Polski Association.
Why did PiS MPs boycott the committee vote?
They cited a protective order from the Constitutional Tribunal that ordered the Sejm to suspend the selection of judges to the KRS.
Does the requirement for every political club to have a representative on the candidate list ensure fairness or hinder judicial reform?
