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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

Polish president signs 1 of 3 contested laws on judiciary

People gather for candle lit protest in front of the Supreme Court in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 24, 2017. Polish President Andrzej Duda announced earlier that he will veto two contentious bills widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system, but the protesters demand a veto for a third bill. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
People gather for candle lit protest in front of the Supreme Court in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 24, 2017. Polish President Andrzej Duda announced earlier that he will veto two contentious bills widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system, but the protesters demand a veto for a third bill. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) People gather for candle lit protest in front of the Supreme Court in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 24, 2017. Polish President Andrzej Duda announced earlier that he will veto two contentious bills widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system, but the protesters demand a veto for a third bill. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – The office of Poland’s president says he has signed into law one of three contested bills that organizes the judiciary in a way that critics say limits judiciary independence.

President Andrzej Duda announced Monday after days of protests that he would veto two of the bills.

His office said Tuesday he signed the third one, despite demonstrations late Monday in several cities urging him to block that one, too.

The law allows the justice minister, who is also the prosecutor general, to name the heads of all courts.

Critics say it is unconstitutional, but welcomed his rejection of the other bills. One of them would have allowed the justice minister to immediately fire all Supreme Court justices and choose their replacements.