The Polish Ministry of Justice has come under scrutiny for awarding contracts potentially worth up to PLN 324,000 to Professor Tadeusz Tomaszewski. Tomaszewski, who leads a working group tasked with drafting legislation concerning court-appointed expert witnesses, has received payments that have raised questions regarding their alignment with his unpaid role within the group.
Established in April 2024, the working group functions under guidelines that stipulate its members do not receive compensation for their participation. Contrary to these guidelines, Tomaszewski has been awarded a civil-law contract valued at PLN 8,000 per month, totaling PLN 192,000. In addition, a second contract, effective from May 2026, allocates an extra PLN 11,000 monthly. If this contract remains active for its full duration, the total payout could potentially reach PLN 324,000.
Details about the specific responsibilities covered under these contracts have not been disclosed by the Ministry of Justice. This lack of clarity has prompted a legal association to seek further information and copies of the contracts to ascertain whether the paid work is distinct from Tomaszewski’s voluntary duties within the working group.
The concern arises from the possibility that if the contracts involve tasks such as drafting legislation, conducting analyses, providing consultations, or managing work related to court-appointed experts, there might be an overlap with responsibilities that should be carried out without remuneration. The legal association argues that if these contracts pertain to separate roles, there may be no issue, but clarity is essential to ensure transparency and adherence to the rules.
As the situation develops, more information is anticipated once the Ministry of Justice releases the requested documents, which will shed light on whether the contracts are compliant with the working group’s no-remuneration policy or if further examination is warranted.