Statutory basis

Legal status of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is a judiciary body that exercises supervision over common and military courts regarding judgments. It also performs other activities specified in the Constitution and statutes.

The Supreme Court is responsible for the administration of justice by ensuring the legality and uniformity of judicial decisions of common courts and military courts by examining appeals and adopting resolutions resolving legal issues. The Supreme Court also exercises the administration of justice by providing extraordinary review of final court judgments in order to ensure their consistency with the principle of a democratic state ruled by law and implementing the principles of social justice by the examination of extraordinary complaints.

The competence of the Supreme Court also includes examining disciplinary cases as determined by statute, as well as examining election protests and deciding upon the validity of elections to the Sejm and the Senate, the election of the President of the Republic of Poland, elections to the European Parliament, examining protests against validity of a national referendum or a constitutional referendum, and deciding upon the validity of a referendum. The Supreme Court task is also issuing opinions on legislative bills and other normative acts under which courts adjudicate and function, as well as other legislative bills to the extent that they affect cases within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Moreover, the Supreme Court performs other actions as provided by statute.

The Supreme Court is headed by the First President of the Supreme Court, who is appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland for a six-year term from amongst five candidates nominated by the General Assembly of Judges of the Supreme Court and may be re-elected only once. Since 26 May 2020, the First President of the Supreme Court has been dr hab. Małgorzata Manowska.

Presidents of the Supreme Court head the work of chambers. President of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland after having asked the opinion of the First President of the Supreme Court for a three-year term from amongst three candidates nominated by the assembly of judges of a chamber of the Supreme Court and may be re-elected only twice.

The Presidents of the Supreme Court are: prof. dr hab. Joanna Misztal-Konecka - the Civil Chamber; Zbigniew Kapiński - the Criminal Chamber; dr hab. Krzysztof Wiak - the Extraordinary Review and Public Affairs Chamber, and Wiesław Kozielewicz - the Professional Liability Chamber.

Statutory basis of the Supreme Court

Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997 - Article 175(1) and Article 183

1. The administration of justice in the Republic of Poland shall be implemented by the Supreme Court, the common courts, administrative courts and military courts.

1. The Supreme Court shall exercise supervision over common and military courts regarding judgments.
2. The Supreme Court shall also perform other activities specified in the Constitution and statutes.
3. The First President of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a 6-year term of office from amongst candidates proposed by the General Assembly of the Judges of the Supreme Court.

The Constitution of the Republic of Poland - Polish version

Act on the Supreme Court

Act on the Supreme Court - English version

Act on the Supreme Court - Polish version

Statutory basis of the Supreme Court - Polish website

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