Poland’s Ministry of Justice is under scrutiny following revelations about contracts potentially worth up to PLN 324,000 awarded to Professor Tadeusz Tomaszewski. Tomaszewski, who heads a working group tasked with drafting legislation for court-appointed expert witnesses, received two separate contracts, sparking questions about their nature and whether they align with his voluntary role within the group.
The working group, formed in April 2024, operates under guidelines stipulating that its members cannot be paid for their participation. Despite these rules, records from the Ministry indicate that Tomaszewski was awarded a civil-law contract valued at PLN 8,000 monthly, amounting to PLN 192,000 in total. A subsequent contract, starting in May 2026, adds another PLN 11,000 per month, potentially bringing the total compensation to around PLN 324,000 if the agreement runs its full term.
There is currently no public disclosure from the Ministry of Justice regarding the specific responsibilities these contracts entail. This lack of clarity has prompted a legal association to seek explanations and copies of the agreements to verify whether the tasks compensated by the contracts are distinct from Tomaszewski’s unpaid duties in the working group.
If the remunerated tasks are indeed separate from his role in the group, it might not present an issue. However, if the contracts cover activities such as legislative preparation, analysis, consultation, or coordination related to court-appointed experts, it could suggest a conflict with the group’s original purpose of unpaid contribution. The situation remains unresolved as further documentation from the Ministry is awaited to shed light on the matter.