Warsaw courts face a serious staff crisis linked to the shortage of jurors. This problem may paralyze the work of the judiciary, as where the panel of judges must include a juror, the absence of its presence will make it impossible to examine the case. Despite further calls, the situation is not improving. We remind you that the neojudge of Manowska acting in a manner contrary to the law of the function I president of the SN is stalking a group of jurors who refuse to justice in cases with neojudges.
Jury deficit in Warsaw
In June 2024 a second complementary recruitment for jurors was organised in Warsaw, which in full gives a 3rd effort to fill the staff shortages. Nevertheless, the number of applications is drastically low. Today, only 13 people have volunteered in the ongoing recruitment, while 287 jurors are missing. If this situation does not improve, Warsaw courts will face a serious problem. Cases will fall out of court due to the fact that it will not be possible to complete the required ruling.
Low remuneration and strict requirements
Martyna Skibniewska, president of the Polish Jury Association, draws attention to the missing 120 jurors in the Warsaw territory Court and 150 in the Warsaw-Prague territory Court. Skibniewska emphasises that despite a tiny number of applications, the city rejects candidates for trivial reasons, specified as missing date or insignificant formal errors.
The problem is besides low remuneration, which is only PLN 180 per session. For a number of possible candidates, this rate does not supply adequate motivation to take on juror duties. “This is not money to encourage specified action,” the jury says, stressing that the strategy needs major changes to attract more people.
The importance of jurors in the justice system
Judge Marek Celej, presently at rest, points out the key function that jurors play in the Polish justice system. In his opinion, jurors, frequently retired or retired with extended professional experience, can be an highly valuable origin of cognition for judges. For example, doctors or builders, acting as jurors, may supply applicable information that affects the course of cases. Celej warns that leaving the jury from the strategy would be a disaster for justice.
Judge Anna Birdiek of the territory Court in Warsaw emphasizes that the absence of jurors leads to frequent collisions of deadlines, which delays court proceedings, especially in criminal cases. It besides draws attention to the problem in household courts where a jury is required to decide on the adoption and dissolution of a kid and on cases of failure to recognise paternity. Delays in these cases may have serious consequences for the welfare of children.
Legislative changes planned
In the face of increasing problems, Deputy Minister of Justice Dariusz Mazur announces changes aimed at simplifying the procedures for the selection of jurors. Simpler forms and little complex procedures are planned to facilitate recruitment. In addition, in the future there are to be higher rates for acting as a juror, which could encourage more people to apply for these positions.
Summary
The current crisis of the deficiency of jurors in Warsaw courts is simply a problem which requires immediate intervention. Without a adequate number of jurors, many cases cannot be dealt with, which threatens the functioning of the full justice system. The changes planned by the ministry may aid solve this problem, but urgent action is needed to prevent further paralysis of courts.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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The deficiency of jurors in Warsaw courts could lead to paralysis in the case law