Former Constitutional Court chief criticizes President over stalled judicial appointments

Former Constitutional Tribunal president Andrzej Zoll told Fak­t he cannot comprehend why President Karol Nawrocki has not appointed 57 court assessors who cleared the qualification process and finished training at the National School of Judiciary. Zoll said the situation harms the justice system, highlighting staff shortages and prolonged proceedings that could be eased by adding over 50 judges. Although a number of assessors from the same year have already been nominated, the president’s office has not announced a timeline for the remaining candidates, and some have already lost their four-year entitlement to adjudicate.

The assessors are ready for judicial duties, and the Votum association warns that the lack of appointments may lead to postponed hearings and longer cases. The dispute also reflects a broader conflict between the president and prime minister over whether such appointments require the prime minister’s signature, a question previously ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Tribunal.