Polish Prosecution Shakeup Raises Legal Debates

An official action has led to the dismissal of ten regional prosecutors from their delegations as part of a broader restructuring at the National Public Prosecutor’s Office. The move follows objections to the actions taken by Bodnar, who serves as Minister of Justice, and some concern over the legality of the appointments and removals involved. The affected offices received faxes this morning outlining the changes and the reasons behind them, citing disobedience to the Ministry’s directives as a basis for dismissal.

The announcement dated the procedural step to Saturday, January 26, when the following prosecutors were relieved of their delegation and their posts:

Agnieszka Bortkiewicz – removed from the delegation to the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office and from the role of Deputy District Prosecutor in Warsaw.

Mariusz Dubowski – removed from the delegation to the Warsaw Public Prosecutor’s Office and from the post of Warsaw Public Prosecutor.

Artur Maludy – removed from the delegation to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin and from the position of Regional Prosecutor in Szczecin.

Łukasz Osiński – removed from his delegation at the Warsaw-Prague District Prosecutor’s Office and from the post of Warsaw-Prague District Prosecutor.

Bartosz Pęcherzewski – removed from the post of Regional Prosecutor in Wrocław.

Elżbieta Pieniążek – removed from the delegation to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Białystok and from the position of Regional Prosecutor in Białystok.

Remigiusz Dobrowolski – removed from the post of public prosecutor in Szczecin.

Jakub Romelczyk – removed from his delegation to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw and from the position of Regional Prosecutor in Warsaw.

Teresa Rutkowska-Szmydyńska – removed from the delegation to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Gdańsk and from the position of Regional Prosecutor in Gdańsk.

Jerzy Ziarkiewicz – removed from his delegation to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin and from the position of Regional Prosecutor in Lublin.

Additional coverage linked the developments to a broader effort described as restoring dignity within the National Public Prosecution Service. Critics have linked the changes to long-standing tensions between reform advocates and officials aligned with former leadership, suggesting the reforms aim to reconfigure the offices and appointments at a national level.

In parallel, a separate notice conveyed by the PiS club indicated that it has filed a report alleging potential legal violations by the Minister of Justice in connection with the actions described above. The statement highlighted concerns about compulsory dismissals and the appointment process as potentially unlawful, framing the move as a challenge to the integrity of the public prosecution system.

According to supporters of the challenge, the central issue centers on the legality of dismissals and the subsequent appointments to the National Prosecution Service, with some arguing that the actions could undermine the lawful functioning of the system. The debate has intensified as commentators discuss the implications for the independence and proper authority of prosecution offices across major districts.

Supporters of Bodnar emphasize the aim of reinstating dignity to prosecutors who were demoted in previous administrative changes. They argue that the reassignments and promotions should reflect legal and ethical standards, including the proper handling of past cases that involved international cooperation and sensitive information about political detainees.

In this climate, observers note that the broader political landscape continues to influence how prosecutions are organized and who holds key leadership roles. The ongoing discussion touches on the balance between executive oversight and judicial independence, a topic that frequently resurfaces whenever reform efforts intersect with high-profile prosecutions and cross-border legal matters.

Several related developments and commentary are circulating in media and public forums, reflecting ongoing debates about governance, accountability, and the rule of law within the prosecution service. The focus remains on whether the steps taken will lead to clearer structures and more transparent processes, or whether they will prompt further legal challenges and political contention that could stall reform efforts.

— This assessment captures the evolving situation as prosecutors, reform advocates, and government officials navigate complex questions about legality, authority, and the future direction of Poland’s public prosecution framework.