WARSAW, Poland — A top court in Poland ruled Monday that controversial rules introduced by the right-wing government that allow lawmakers to choose members of a judicial body are in line with the constitution. The verdict by the Constitutional Tribunal backs the government in its bitter dispute with critics in Poland and in the European Union who say that only judges should have the right to choose members of the Supreme Judicial Council. Reading the verdict, Judge Justyn Piskorski said that there is nothing in the constitution that would deny judges the right to choose the council’s members, but that right is not limited to judges only. It issues opinions on new legislation concerning judges, as well as on appointments to high judicial posts. The EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg is also analyzing the independence of the judicial council and is to rule in the coming months.

Source: Washington Post March 25, 2019 13:18 UTC