Waldemar Żurek appeared at the Supreme Court headquarters for a press conference organized by the Jurors' Council, during which the death of Adam Strzembosz was announced.

The Minister of Justice called him a "legend of the judiciary." - He was a guiding figure for me [...]. In the most difficult moments of the attack on the independent judiciary, Adam Strzembosz, though ailing and tired, instead of sitting in his armchair, came out to us and offered his support. I personally thank him very much for that - stated Żurek, after which the conference participants honored Strzembosz’s memory with a minute of silence.

“On what grounds did you intrude upon the Supreme Court?”

Żurek then moved on to the main topic of the conference. As he was thanking the Jurors' Council, Aleksander Stępkowski, a Supreme Court judge and co-founder of Ordo Iuris, unexpectedly appeared at the conference.

- I wanted to ask on what grounds you intruded… How did the executive branch coordinate its presence on the Supreme Court premises, with the President of the Supreme Court? - he asked, to which the chairman of the Jurors' Council replied that the minister was their guest.

- I am not talking to you, you are not the First President of the Supreme Court - Stępkowski retorted, before continuing, addressing Żurek: - Will the First President of the Supreme Court be able to organize a press conference for himself at the Ministry of Justice on Monday? […] You gentlemen have violated the order of the First President of the Supreme Court, concerning the rules for unauthorized persons on the Supreme Court premises.

- Mr. Neo-judge Stępkowski, please leave - the head of the Jurors' Council said in the meantime.

“I do not want to descend to that level”

The Minister of Justice responded to Stępkowski: - The Jurors' Council is a legal body, unquestioned by anyone. The Jurors' Council has the right to meet with the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for the reform of the judiciary, including the Supreme Court.

- I was invited here legally, I am here legally. Professor Stępkowski is attacking me, but I do not want to descend to that level and I do not want to ask those difficult questions that I once asked the professor. […] Today, the person performing this function on behalf of Prof. Manowska is trying to disrupt our meeting with society, de facto with the media. And this at a time when we are commemorating an icon of the judiciary - he continued.

“We are dealing with a brutal intrusion”

In response, Stępkowski stated that “the minister intruded upon the Supreme Court premises as the executive branch and Attorney General without coordination or the knowledge of the host of this place, who is the First President of the Supreme Court”. - We are dealing with a brutal intrusion and a violation of the autonomy of the Supreme Court - he emphasized.

“The Supreme Court is not a private farm”

After a few minutes of mutual exchange of words, Stępkowski left the conference. - We are in a public utility building. This is a building for the entire society. The Supreme Court is neither Mr. Stępkowski's nor Ms. Manowska's private farm - commented Waldemar Żurek.