The independence and impartiality of the judiciary is a prerequisite and a fundamental guarantee of the rule of law”. Briefs remarks stemming from the Wałęsa v. Poland pilot-judgement of the ECtHR

The assurance of the rule of law within Poland, specifically regarding the independence of the judiciary, has become a focal point of discussion among legal scholars (see inter alia M. Cartabia, The Rule of Law and the Role of Courts, in Italian Journal of Public Law, 1, 2018; M.A. Orlandi, La “democrazia illiberale”. Ungheria e Polonia a confronto, in Diritto pubblico comparato ed europeo, 1, 2019, 167; S. Sciarra, Identità nazionale e corti costituzionali. Il valore comune dell’indipendenza, in B. Carotti (ed.), Identità nazionale degli stati membri, primato del diritto dell’unione europea, stato di diritto e indipendenza dei giudici nazionali, Roma, 2022). Indeed, judicial independence constitutes a fundamental pillar of the rule of law and democratic governance. It ensures that judges can operate impartially, free from inappropriate interference by the executive branch, thereby protecting individual rights and fostering public trust in the judicial system (cf. G. Silvestri, Organizzazione giudiziaria e indipendenza della magistrature, in Ritorno al diritto, 2, 2005, 1-32).