Prosecutor's office launches investigation into Supreme Court President Zbigniew Kapiński
Poland's prosecutor's office has initiated criminal proceedings against the President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapiński, who is suspected of abuse of power during his tenure as head of the criminal chamber.
Prosecutor's office launches investigation into Supreme Court President Zbigniew Kapiński
Poland's prosecutor's office has initiated criminal proceedings against the President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapiński, who is suspected of abuse of power. The investigation was opened after several judges filed a notification of a possible crime.
Kapiński was nominated to the Supreme Court in 2022 by the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) – the body responsible for judicial appointments, whose legitimacy was questioned by Polish and European courts following reforms carried out by the Law and Justice (PiS) government in 2017. According to those rulings, the KRS lost its independence and came under political influence.
Prosecutors are investigating whether during the period from May 2024 to May 2026 Kapiński, as head of the criminal chamber of the Supreme Court, abused his powers by blocking requests to disqualify so-called "neo-judges" from individual cases due to the contested status of their appointments.
A notification against Kapiński was filed on 28 May 2026 – just three days after the new president Karol Nawrocki, associated with PiS, appointed him to the position of Supreme Court president in a procedure boycotted by many "old" judges.
Kapiński rejects the accusations, calling the proceedings a "coordinated political action". If found guilty of abuse of power, he faces up to three years' imprisonment. However, as Supreme Court president, he enjoys immunity, which can only be lifted by the National Council of the Judiciary, which he himself heads.
Source: 444.hu
Source: 444