Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland (HFHR) has issued a report on access to justice during the COVID-19 crisis in Poland. According to the report most cases in Polish courts have been postponed with statutory and court-imposed deadlines suspended, but courts are still handling “urgent” cases such as detention hearings, European Arrest Warrant cases, fast-track criminal proceedings etc. Video conferencing is used very little in Polish courts, with proposal on electronic submissions introduced and later withdrawn in the legislative procedure. 

Generally, the lack of systematic guidance on access to courts at the moment creates uncertainty for parties to judicial proceedings. There are no uniform rules on the submission of letters and documents or the operations of court registry offices. Also, the courts have not implemented any standardised method of publishing online updates and notifications. 

We publish information as it is reported to us. If you would like to make us aware of an inaccuracy or send us more information please email us at [email protected]