Poland moves to discipline Constitutional Tribunal president and deputy
Poland's acting Constitutional Tribunal head, Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, announced disciplinary proceedings against Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy Bartłomiej Sochański. The move follows her decision to suspend both judges for one month over allegations requiring investigation. Korwin-Piotrowska stated the disciplinary process will involve a disciplinary court composed of tribunal judges, with three judges in the first instance and five in the second. She plans to add an agenda item Monday for Tuesday's general assembly to select disciplinary panel members by lottery, ensuring "full transparency" in the selection process. The disciplinary court must review the temporary suspension within 30 days. The crisis escalated after Justice Minister Waldemar Goryk filed five requests on October 30 to lift judicial immunity, four against Święczkowski and one against Sochański, ahead of potential criminal charges including obstruction of justice. Protests occurred near the tribunal, police detained several people, and President Karol Nawrocki cut short a Senegal visit, calling the events a "forcible takeover" of a constitutional institution.