Concerns have emerged regarding contracts awarded by Poland’s Ministry of Justice to Professor Tadeusz Tomaszewski, who chairs a working group tasked with preparing legislation on court-appointed expert witnesses. The contracts in question could potentially be worth up to PLN 324,000. This working group, which was formed in April 2024, operates under a framework indicating that its members should not receive payment for their involvement in the group’s activities.
Despite these guidelines, the Ministry of Justice has disclosed that Tomaszewski was granted a civil-law contract, which compensated him PLN 8,000 monthly, totaling PLN 192,000. Additionally, a subsequent contract initiated in May 2026 promises an extra PLN 11,000 per month. Should this second contract extend to its full term, the combined financial value could reach approximately PLN 324,000. The ministry, however, has yet to clarify the specific responsibilities outlined under these contracts.
The legal association that flagged this issue is currently seeking clarification and has requested copies of the contracts to verify whether the remunerated work is distinct from Tomaszewski’s non-paid duties within the working group. This distinction is crucial, as it could determine whether there is any conflict of interest involved. If these contracts pertain to separate tasks, there might not be any issue. However, if they relate to drafting legislation, offering analyses, providing consultations, or coordinating efforts connected to court-appointed experts, concerns may arise over whether these payments overlap with duties meant to be performed without payment.
Further information is anticipated once the Ministry of Justice releases the requested documents. Until then, questions remain as to whether the financial arrangements align with the intended guidelines of the working group and whether Tomaszewski’s compensated activities were appropriately separate from his volunteer commitments.