Constitutional Tribunal Postpones Meetings On Presidential Pardon, Judicial Reforms

Poland's Constitutional Court postponed two meetings scheduled for today due to a "sudden and justified absence" of one judge. According to the initial docket, the Court was due to discuss two cases of high political significance, both of which must be heard by the full bench (at least 11 out of 5 judges), but it was uncertain if any of the rebel judges who refuse to participate in the proceedings would suspend the boycott.

• The meeting on a competence dispute between the President and the Supreme Court regarding the presidential pardon power has been moved to June 2 (Friday). The dispute dates back to 2015, when President Andrzej Duda pardoned current Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski and his aides before a higher-tier court managed to consider their appeals.
• The meeting on court reforms required by the European Commission to unlock EU funding earmarked for Poland has been postponed until June 27. The government has been trying to push the needed reforms in order to secure billions in EU funding, but they have been stuck in the Tribunal which is paralysed by an internal dispute.
• As a reminder, the Tribunal has been unable to hear cases which require the presence of the full bench as at least five judges claim that Chief Justice Julia Przylebska's term has expired and she should immediately launch the procedures leading to her replacement. The rebel judges have been refusing to hear cases until Przylebska complies with their demands.