Bodnar dismissed the scandalist as president of the Malbork territory Court

On August 29, 2024, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar decided to dismiss justice Catherine Cloudy as president of the Malbork territory Court. We remind you that with Catherine Chmara, the prosecution is investigating abuse of power and breach of ethics.

Reasons for appeal

The Ministry of Justice informed in its communication that the College of the Gdańsk territory Court had expressed a affirmative opinion on the appeal of Catherine Cloudy as president of the Malbork territory Court. Among the reasons for the appeal were the omission of the participation of the local government of the Malbork territory Court in the procedure for the election of justice Cloud as President.

In addition, the ministry stressed that Cloud signed letters of support for the judges-candidates to the National Judiciary Council (NRA). It is worth recalling that the neoKRS, in its current composition, was criticized for its way of establishing under the Act of December 2017, which, according to many legal experts, does not meet constitutional standards. The cloud was an active associate in this controversial reform, which could have affected the decision to revoke it.

Career of Catherine Cloudy

Catherine Cloud has been a justice since 1998. She worked in various departments, including the criminal and household and minors department. She besides gained experience as Vice-President of the household Department. In 2021, she was appointed to the KRS to replace Teresa Kurcyusz-Furmaniak, and in 2022 she began a second word in the Council.

Over the years, Cloud has gained the support of 35 judges, including those from the Malbork territory Court, the Gdańsk-South territory Court, and the Wałbrzych, Rzeszów and Elbląg courts. In 2022, then Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro appointed her as president of the Malbork territory Court, thus ending his erstwhile word of office, Maciej Helmin.

Policy context

The appeal of Catherine Cloud as president of the Malbork territory Court falls within the broader context of the improvement of the judiciary, which Poland has been carrying out since 2015. This improvement raises quite a few controversy, both at home and abroad. 1 of its key elements is to change the way judges are appointed to the National Judicial Council, which, according to the improvement critics, undermines the independency of the courts.

Catherine Cloud, as a individual who actively participated in the fresh neoKRS formation, was at the heart of this discussion. Its appeal may be interpreted as an effort to respond to allegations relating to its relation with the reform, as well as as as a step towards further personnel change in the judiciary.

Resignation of Agnieszka Czerwinska

In the context of staff changes in the Malbork territory Court, it is besides worth mentioning the resignation of Agnieszka Czerwińska as vice-president of that court after the appeal procedure was opened against her.

Daniel Głogowski

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