Abstract

In its Art. 182, the Constitution of the Republic of Poland provides for the principle of participation of a representative of the community in the administration of justice. The point is that the minimum scope for this participation has not been provided for anywhere. For years, the legislator has been consistently restricting participation of lay judges in examining court cases. The Act, which entered into force on 3 July 2021, completely eliminated lay judges from civil proceedings. Although this regulation is to prevent COVID-19 infections and is of an episodic nature, as shown by the legislative process and the circumstances of passing the Act - one may seriously doubt the legislator's intentions in this respect.