A year and a half has passed since a ruling by the Constitutional Court tied the implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments to Poland’s own political process. The statement signals a clear stance: the judgments of the ECtHR will be integrated in a way that aligns with the country’s legal and political considerations, according to Professor Ewa Łętowska.
In a detailed interview, Professor Łętowska offered practical guidance on managing what she described as the emergence of new actors within the National Council of the Judiciary. She emphasized that speed and proactive engagement from lawmakers could influence how the council takes shape, including the recent accession of new members appointed by the Sejm to help organize the council’s work.
The ECtHR’s timeline has been noted as a factor in the broader political balancing act. The court gave Poland a one-year window to address these concerns, during which the court indicated it would delay placing Polish rule of law issues on its agenda. This pause is seen as a strategic moment, especially as the political landscape evolves and efforts intensify to get processes moving again.
Łętowska also spoke about the Sejm’s announcements regarding the newly appointed members of the National Council for the Judiciary. She pointed out that the sequence of events—political debate followed by formal decisions—often shapes the outcomes, and she questioned the value placed on the council’s status as a full constitutional body in light of recent actions.
What has been called into question is whether the Sejm acted appropriately in appointing its own members to the council. Łętowska described the move as a significant policy initiative that invites scrutiny about the balance of authority among state institutions and the overall effectiveness of judicial governance. She noted that the legality of the council’s composition, while supported by some, remains a point of contention for others who insist on a more traditional constitutional framework.
In this context, the process of reform receives a cautious yet persistent push. The core issue remains how to maintain judicial independence while ensuring that the council and the courts can operate within the political system in a way that preserves public confidence. Łętowska underscored that the primary task for lawmakers is not merely to act quickly, but to act with clear purpose and legal alignment so that any changes strengthen the rule of law rather than complicate it further.
Observers are reminded that any move to alter the status of judges or to modify the mechanisms for appointing or dismissing members of the judiciary must respect constitutional protections. The principle that judges should not be removable solely by political decision remains a cornerstone, while discussions continue about how to handle appointments and potential removals through appropriate channels and legal procedures.
The broader debate on how to integrate ECtHR judgments and how to organize judicial bodies is expected to continue. As political and legal actors engage in these conversations, the aim remains to ensure stability, accountability, and a governance framework that supports fair and impartial justice for all citizens.
Source materials discussed include public analyses of the National Council for the Judiciary and related constitutional considerations, with ongoing scrutiny of how such reforms will unfold in practice within the Polish legal system.