Polish judges protest over disciplinary chamber continued operations

Eight judges from Poland's Supreme Court walked out of a meeting of the court's board on Thursday to protest against the continued operation of a Disciplinary Chamber in violation of a ruling the EU’s top court.

Brussels has demanded that the Polish government adhere to a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union demanding that it suspends the Chamber, which lies at the heart of a protracted dispute between the EU and Poland, owing to an apparent lack of sufficient independence from the government.

But Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said recently that there are no plans to liquidate the disciplinary body, which is part the Supreme Court.

The Polish government has said that it will shut down the chamber in its current form although it has also claimed that the EU has no right to interfere in its judicial systems.

According to the statement issued by the eight judges, they will refrain from participating in the work of the Supreme Court's board until the operation of the Disciplinary Chamber is completely discontinued.