“I do not agree with a ruling that questions my impartiality and, for that reason, overturns a judgment issued by a court in which I presided. I adjudicate according to my conscience and the law,” Judge Daniel Jurkiewicz told the news portal Niezależna.pl. Today, the life sentence he handed down for a triple murder was overturned, as the authorities consider him a so-called “neo-judge.”

Verdict Overturned Due to “Neo-Judge” Status

Judge Henryk Komisarski of the Court of Appeal in Poznań today overturned the life sentence imposed on Serhii T. for the murder of his wife and two young daughters.

Komisarski justified his decision by stating that the ruling had been issued with the participation of Daniel Jurkiewicz – a so-called “neo-judge” who, in his opinion, “failed the test of independence and impartiality.”

The panel of judges consisted of the following members:

• Henryk Komisarski (rapporteur)
• Krzysztof Lewandowski
• Izabela Pospieska
• Marek Kordowiecki
• Grzegorz Nowak

Judge Jurkiewicz: I Do Not Agree with This Ruling

Niezależna.pl reached out to Judge Daniel Jurkiewicz. Naturally, he was already aware of the decision by the Court of Appeal in Poznań to overturn the life sentence for the man convicted of murdering his wife and daughters.

“I do not agree with a ruling that questions my impartiality and, for that reason, overturns a judgment issued by a court in which I presided,” Judge Jurkiewicz told Niezależna.pl, emphasizing that the proceedings lasted many months and numerous witnesses were heard.

“The entire trial process was fully completed,” he noted.

During the proceedings, the defendant’s attorney did not file any motions to recuse the judge based on the date of his appointment.

“I fully consider myself an impartial judge. I adjudicate according to my conscience and the provisions of the law,” he stressed.

Judge Jurkiewicz admitted that this is yet another overturned verdict concerning a serious crime in recent months.

“And it happens without any substantive review of the case – the only reason being the identity of the judge. I don’t know if that was the case here specifically, because I haven’t seen the case files, but considering what has happened before, I assume it was the same this time,” he explained.

Judge Jurkiewicz continues to serve on the bench in criminal cases at the District Court in Poznań. Although he is no longer handling murder cases, all of his cases concern very serious crimes.

It is therefore highly likely that additional verdicts will be overturned by the so-called “defenders of the rule of law,” leading to such absurd situations.

The Niezależna.pl portal has reported multiple times on the annulment of Judge Jurkiewicz’s rulings.