The District Court in Warsaw is grappling with procedural complexities in the case of issuing a European Arrest Warrant for Zbigniew Ziobro. Although Judge Dariusz Łubowski resigned from adjudicating in the enforcement section, the prosecution is still demanding his official recusal. Decisions on the new division of duties and the final adjudicating panel will be made by the College of the District Court, which will directly impact the pace of the investigation into the former minister.

Judge's Procedural Resignation

Judge Dariusz Łubowski resigned from working in the EAW section, but the College must decide whether he will finish processing the application for Ziobro's arrest.

Recusal Motion

The Prosecution is demanding the removal of Łubowski from the case, and the validity of this motion is to be assessed by Judge Katarzyna Stasiów, despite attempts to recuse her.

Justice Ministry Not Interfering

Deputy Minister Dariusz Mazur stated that the Ministry of Justice has no influence on the internal staffing decisions of the District Court.

The procedure for issuing a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for Zbigniew Ziobro has entered a phase of complicated personal-legal disputes within the District Court in Warsaw. A key figure in this dispute is Judge Dariusz Łubowski, to whose docket the prosecution's application was initially assigned. According to the latest reports, this judge has resigned from adjudicating in the section handling EAW applications, casting doubt on his further involvement in the case. The National Prosecutor's Office, not waiting for the effects of the resignation, has filed a formal motion to recuse Łubowski from adjudicating, arguing a lack of impartiality. The fate of this motion lies in the hands of Judge Katarzyna Stasiów, against whom procedural objections have also been raised. The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Justice, Dariusz Mazur, emphasized in the media that the ministry has no influence on the appointment of judges, as it is an autonomous decision of the court's authorities. This situation provoked a sharp reaction from the person concerned. Since the 1990s, the District Court in Warsaw has been a key body adjudicating matters of the highest state and political importance, often becoming an arena for disputes over judicial independence and the influence of politics on the justice system. Zbigniew Ziobro himself sharply criticized the court's actions on social media, calling them a „court setup”. He accused the judges of acting on political orders and announced he would hold them accountable in the future. From the investigators' perspective, it is crucial to resolve whether Łubowski will finish the cases he started, or if they will be reassigned to new judges as a result of a decision by the College. The case has an international dimension, as the former minister is currently in Hungary, which requires an effective extradition procedure or one based on EAW regulations to bring charges against him in the investigation concerning the Justice Fund. „Criminals in robes, running the District Court in Warsaw - on Żurek's orders - are staging another court setup.” — Zbigniew Ziobro1 — EAW application remains suspendedTimeline of the Judge Dispute: February 16 — Łubowski's Resignation; February 17, morning — Ministry's Position; February 17, afternoon — Ziobro's Post; February 18 — College Meeting

Mentioned People

  • Zbigniew Ziobro — Former Minister of Justice, against whom the prosecution is applying for an EAW.
  • Dariusz Łubowski — Judge of the District Court in Warsaw, assigned to the EAW case, who submitted his resignation.
  • Dariusz Mazur — Deputy Minister of Justice commenting on the court's autonomy.
  • Katarzyna Stasiów — Judge tasked with reviewing the motion to recuse Judge Łubowski.