The Resolution of the Congress of Polish Lawyers
The priority of the judiciary in a 21st century democratic state based upon the rule of law should be ensuring the full right to fair trial, as well as effective and swift proceedings.
The judiciary in the 21st century should be citizen-friendly – simple and accessible.
The mission of an independent judge in the 21st century should be administering justice through deciding and resolving disputes, with all due diligence regarding the rights of the citizens stipulated in the Constitution and EU law.
The proper reform of the judiciary in the 21st century requires opening a public debate on three basic issues:
- first, the organisation of the judiciary ensuring effective legal protection;
- second, the simplification of the procedures and establishing institutions working towards ensuring swift court proceedings;
- third, ensuring the independent and transparent judiciary as a prerequisite for independent rulings by individual judges.
It is necessary to involve in the legislation process the social capital that is the intellectual potential behind the roughly 100 000 lawyers in Poland with their representative bodies and associations.
A commission needs to be appointed comprised of representatives of various legal professions. Its first task should be drawing up drafts and/or bills to amend acts regarding the matters discussed during the Congress and submitting them to entities with legislative powers.
We hereby appeal for putting an end to, and avoiding in the future, the hostility expressed in the debates between the worlds of politics and law. We wish to act together, not against one another, with a view to the common good that is a stable, democratic state based upon the rule of law and meant to serve its citizens.