Żurek ordered the suspension of Michał Lasota, Piotr Schab and Przemysław W. Radzik, all judges at the Warsaw Court of Appeal, state news agency PAP reported on Wednesday.
The justice minister said the alleged offences included impersonating state authorities, using confiscated official seals and fabricating proceedings against independent judges.
He wrote on X that courts should protect the law rather than serve as the private domain of an unlawful arrangement.
The justice ministry said the law allows judges to be suspended from official duties immediately until a disciplinary court adopts resolutions, but for no longer than one month.
The National Public Prosecutor's Office submitted requests to the Supreme Court on October 9 seeking permission to prosecute all three judges.
The investigation concerns alleged "appropriation of the functions of disciplinary spokespersons for judges."
Prosecutors suspect Lasota of exceeding his powers by presenting himself as still serving as deputy disciplinary spokesman for judges despite being dismissed by the justice minister on July 29, 2025.
The allegations also concern his performance of duties reserved for that role, including handling disciplinary cases and participating in Supreme Court hearings.
Prosecutors intend to bring similar allegations against Schab, who was dismissed as disciplinary spokesman for judges on 25 April 2025. The allegations concern presenting himself as still holding the position and continuing to perform duties associated with it.
In addition to allegedly continuing to act as a deputy disciplinary spokesman after April 2025, Radzik is suspected of concealing disciplinary case files and refusing to hand them over despite losing the authority to handle those cases.
In April last year, then-Justice Minister Adam Bodnar dismissed Schab, who was the disciplinary spokesman for judges, and Radzik, his deputy.
Żurek dismissed Lasota, another deputy, shortly after taking office in late July 2025.
The judges argued that their dismissals before the end of their terms were unlawful and ineffective because they lacked a legal basis.
In September last year, the justice ministry announced that Judge Joanna Raczkowska had become the new disciplinary spokesperson for judges, with judges Grzegorz Kasicki and Tomasz Ładny as her deputies.
At a press conference with Lasota and Radzik, Schab said that the three judges would remain in their positions and continue performing their functions, arguing that they were acting lawfully.
(sp/gs)
Source: PAP