Polish President Karol Nawrocki recently announced his veto of a government reform aimed at transferring the power to select judges from the Sejm back to the judiciary. In place of this reform, he proposed a new legislative initiative concerning the justice system, which introduces provisions that prohibit challenging the status of 'neo-judges'. The penalties for questioning the legitimacy of these judges could be as severe as five years in prison, highlighting a significant escalation in the political tensions surrounding the judiciary in Poland.

The proposed law has been met with criticism from legal experts and commentators, with journalist Piotr Szymaniak referring to it as an "atom bomb version of the muzzle law." In his analysis, he emphasized that the legislation offers nothing to resolve issues regarding the legitimacy of 'neo-judges' and merely provides mechanisms to disqualify judges who contest their legality. This development raises concerns about the implications for judicial independence and the rule of law in Poland, as critiques mount against the government's approach to judicial reforms.

Notably, the co-author of this controversial draft is lawyer Bartosz Lewandowski, who serves as a defender for significant PiS party members Zbigniew Ziobro and Marcin Romanowski. This connection underscores the intertwining of legal and political strategies in Poland, as the government continues to push back against both legal opposition and criticism regarding its approach to judicial oversight, signaling ongoing challenges for democratic institutions in the country.