*/
Senior judges in England and Wales have condemned the Polish authorities for interfering with judicial independence.
The Judges’ Council of England and Wales joined European colleagues at the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, which had issued a press release expressing ‘grave concern’ about developments taking place in Poland and their impact on judicial independence.
The concern is over proposed legislation from the Polish government that would allow for the dismissal of the presidents and a substantial number of judges of the Supreme Court, as well as all presidents and vice-presidents of common courts by the executive, and the setting up of disciplinary chambers consisting of peoples’ representatives in the Supreme Court.
The Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union has also drawn attention to the situation.
It voiced disquiet over ‘interventions by Polish authorities, including calling into question the constitutionality of the appointment of the first president of the Supreme Court of Poland and the envisaged reform of the National Council of the Judiciary’ which it said ‘appears to indicate a threat to the independence of the Supreme Court as well as the Polish judiciary as a whole’.
The network warned that the interference will undermine the rule of law and mutual trust in the administration of justice.
Meanwhile, barristers from England and Wales met Polish advocates in Warsaw to exchange experiences in conducting cross-border criminal and family cases at an English-Polish Law Day.
Senior judges in England and Wales have condemned the Polish authorities for interfering with judicial independence.
The Judges’ Council of England and Wales joined European colleagues at the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, which had issued a press release expressing ‘grave concern’ about developments taking place in Poland and their impact on judicial independence.
The concern is over proposed legislation from the Polish government that would allow for the dismissal of the presidents and a substantial number of judges of the Supreme Court, as well as all presidents and vice-presidents of common courts by the executive, and the setting up of disciplinary chambers consisting of peoples’ representatives in the Supreme Court.
The Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union has also drawn attention to the situation.
It voiced disquiet over ‘interventions by Polish authorities, including calling into question the constitutionality of the appointment of the first president of the Supreme Court of Poland and the envisaged reform of the National Council of the Judiciary’ which it said ‘appears to indicate a threat to the independence of the Supreme Court as well as the Polish judiciary as a whole’.
The network warned that the interference will undermine the rule of law and mutual trust in the administration of justice.
Meanwhile, barristers from England and Wales met Polish advocates in Warsaw to exchange experiences in conducting cross-border criminal and family cases at an English-Polish Law Day.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
