"It's a sad day for me. It marks the end of a judiciary era, and the end of organisational independence of the Supreme Court; my tenure, enshrined in the Constitution, is being brutally interrupted," said the First President of the Supreme Court, Professor Małgorzata Gersdorf on Tuesday.
A sad day
In a speech to university students, the judge commented on the new law on the Supreme Court that comes into effect on Tuesday. The legislation forces some 40 percent of Supreme Court judges into early retirement, including the chief justice herself.
"To me, as the First President of the Supreme Court, it's a sad day. A certain era comes to an end in judiciary and the Supreme Court. It's the end of its independence, as far as its organisation and competencies are concerned. My tenure, enshrined in the Constitution, is being brutally interrupted," said judge Gersdorf.
"I trust, however, that the Supreme Court's institutional character, especially manifesting itself through rulings, will remain," she added.
Purge in Supreme Court
"On Wednesday in the Supreme Court, there will be a purge under the pretence of retroactive change of retirement age," said chief justice Małgorzata Gersdorf. "Jurists cannot remain silent in the face of the evil that was done to Polish justice system," she added.
"The so-called sovereign, a very trendy word these days, cannot defy the rules enshrined in the Constitution, as it is the Constitution that regulates the nation's laws," said the First President of the Supreme Court. She added that nowadays, "we're dealing with a rule of law crisis in Poland and with lack of respect for the Constitution".
Professor Gersdorf said "the judiciary, as the weakest of powers, is always the victim of ruthless political confrontation." She cautioned that people should "respect the courts, not undermine their authority and to protect the separation of powers".
"Currently, one of the branches, the judiciary is under attack from the two other ones. This is a world-scale phenomenon. Tomorrow, many great judges, wonderful jurists will be forced into so-called retirement. Changes to the fundamental judiciary acts are being constantly implemented," stressed Professor Gersdorf.
"Unfortunately, the damage done is very serious. The independence of the Polish Constitutional Court has been largely ruined. The judges are being picked by the dictate of the ruling party. Minister of justice and, in consequence, the Prosecutor General has in his hands all the instruments allowing him to influence the outcome of trials," said chief justice Małgorzata Gersdorf on Monday.
Autor: gf / Źródło: tvn24