The method of appointing judges to the Constitutional Tribunal

Abstract

It is shown in the paper that the method of appointing judges to the Constitutional Tribunal depends on the character of the Tribunal ascribed to it by a specific legal order. And yet, care is always taken to ensure that the composition of the Constitutional Tribunal is not influenced by any political power. Treating the Constitutional Tribunal as a political organ (or a third chamber of the parliament, a negative legislator) is flawed. The Constitutional Tribunal can by its decisions strike down certain laws. When examining the compliance of a normative act with the constitution the court takes no account of the rationality or fitness for purpose of the solutions adopted. In this paper, a new way of selecting candidates for the office of judge of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal is proposed with a view to ensuring that a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal is distinguished by outstanding legal knowledge and impeccable character as well as being aware of judicial independence.