The facts
Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced on October 30 that court president Bogdan Swieczkowski and deputy Bartlomiej Sochanski were suspended for one month, and said she was assuming management. [1][2]
The authority for that action is contested. Reporting describes a continuing institutional dispute, rather than a settled court leadership succession. [1][2]
Police said they were securing the court grounds and had not entered the building. Three people were arrested after allegedly trying to enter. [1]
Nawrocki interrupted his Senegal trip and held consultations on October 31. He denounced a forcible takeover; Prime Minister Donald Tusk supported what he described as restoring the rule of law. [1][2]
Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected the compromise proposal on 1 November, while President Karol Nawrocki held consultations with party leaders. [3]
The Supreme Court’s First President scheduled an extraordinary assembly for 3 November to address the constitutional-court crisis. [3]
Polish Radio reported that Korwin-Piotrowska scheduled the assembly for 15:30 local time on 3 November; reporting says its quorum is unclear and the two-thirds threshold is disputed. [4]
Rzeczpospolita reported that eight judges unanimously asserted eight members formed a quorum for the 3 November assembly; competing interpretations of the Tribunal’s membership and quorum remain disputed. [5]
The assembly approved a draft 2027 revenue-and-expenditure plan, according to Rzeczpospolita. This does not establish that the disputed leadership actions are legally effective. [5]
Forsal reported that the assembly formed panels to hear cases concerning suspended Tribunal president Bogdan Swieczkowski and deputy Bartlomiej Sochanski. [6]
Still unconfirmed
- Whether the assembly had a legally valid quorum, whether its budget and panel actions are legally effective, and who lawfully controls the Tribunal remain unresolved.
- No compromise or definitive lawful resolution of the tribunal leadership dispute has been established.
Corrections & updates
Added the 1 November rejection of compromise and the scheduled Supreme Court assembly; the dispute remains unresolved.
Substantive update, 3 November: the scheduled Supreme Court assembly is due later today, but its quorum and authority remain contested. No result is reported.
Substantive update, 3 November: Rzeczpospolita and Forsal report that eight participating judges asserted a quorum and took budget and panel actions. The reports describe competing interpretations of quorum and authority; no legally accepted Tribunal leadership resolution is established.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 3 Nov 2026, 18:59 UTC.
Rzeczpospolita and Forsal report the 3 November assembly’s stated quorum, draft-budget and panel actions. The participating judges’ authority and quorum remain disputed; the article does not describe the outcomes as a settled or legally validated leadership change.
- Poland: Protesters, police clash amid top court standoff
DW · Reporting · 31 Oct 2026
- Protests outside Poland's Constitutional Court: What's the crisis about?
Al Jazeera · Reporting · 31 Oct 2026
- Polish PM rejects compromise as president holds talks with party leaders
Polish Radio / PAP · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Opened report: President Karol Nawrocki held party consultations; Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected the 31 October compromise; the Supreme Court’s First President scheduled an extraordinary assembly for 3 November.
- Polish Constitutional Court judge sets Tuesday meeting, but quorum unclear
Polish Radio · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened regional follow-up: Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska called an assembly for 15:30 on 3 November; its quorum and authority are disputed.
- General Assembly of Constitutional Tribunal judges accepted that quorum is eight people
Rzeczpospolita · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened report on the assembly’s asserted quorum and adoption of its draft 2027 budget project; the legal basis is disputed.
- Constitutional Tribunal assembly: judges adopt 2027 budget plan amid quorum dispute
Forsal · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened Polish report on the assembly’s stated actions and panel assignments; it does not settle the dispute over authority.