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Oath before the president

According to Onet, the ceremony took place on Monday at the Presidential Palace, where Nawrocki handed appointment documents to judges and assessors (Wystąpienie Prezydenta RP podczas uroczystości wręczenia nominacji sędziowskich i asesorskich – Onet). The presidential office had announced earlier that morning that the event was scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.

What the president said

Nawrocki told the newly appointed judges, that he was aware of the long road they had taken to reach the palace, a path marked by difficulties and setbacks that demanded determination, as Onet reported (Karol Nawrocki stawia sprawę jasno. "Nie ma innego mechanizmu zostania sędzią" – Onet). He congratulated them on choosing to serve the national community.

The president also addressed the legal basis for the appointments. He stated that Poland has no other mechanism for becoming a judge than taking the oath before the president of the Republic, and therefore in his presence. He said the group standing in the column hall had been formally recognised as judges of the Republic of Poland because he had decided so.

A parallel dispute

The appointment ceremony came on the same day as a separate controversy. According to Onet, the disciplinary spokesman opened an explanatory proceeding over remarks by Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski, who had criticised prosecutor Andrzej Piaseczny's entry into the Constitutional Tribunal with police officers to search its premises (Rzecznik dyscyplinarny reaguje na słowa Michała Ostrowskiego. Jest postępowanie – Onet). The disciplinary spokesman is examining whether Ostrowski breached the dignity of his office.

Why it matters

The statements on the oath touch on the question of who holds the authority to appoint judges in Poland, a question that has divided political camps over the past years. Onet's coverage links the presidential ceremony and the disciplinary case, both reported on the same day, as examples of the tension between the presidency, the prosecution service and the courts.