President Nawrocki Upholds Ban on 46 Judicial Nominations Amid Legal Challenge

President Karol Nawrocki refused to nominate 46 judges in November 2025, arguing that for the next five years no judge who challenges his constitutional powers, the Polish constitution, or the legal system may receive a promotion. He linked the decision to judges allegedly influenced by Justice Minister Waldemar Żurko. Several of the rejected judges brought the case before the Warsaw Administrative Court, which dismissed the challenge, holding that the president’s appointment authority lies outside the scope of administrative courts.

The court noted that the president acts as the highest state representative, guided solely by constitutional norms. The verdict is not yet legally binding, and the judges intend to appeal. According to reports, the list includes 38 district judges slated for promotion to regional courts, many of whom had signed a 2021 letter calling on the PiS government to obey European Court of Justice decisions that questioned judicial reforms.