WARSAW, Poland — On Thursday, an appellate court in Poland announced a retrial for a women’s rights activist who had been found guilty of supplying abortion pills to another woman.
The Warsaw Appeals Court dismissed the 2023 conviction, stating it was determined by a judge whose appointment raised concerns regarding impartiality. This judge had ties to the previous right-wing, anti-abortion administration, and her appointment to the case, along with a subsequent promotion, was interpreted as a reward for her loyalty rather than a reflection of judicial fairness.
The decision to overturn the conviction illustrates a broader reevaluation of contentious rulings made by judges linked to the former government, as many of these decisions are now being challenged on the grounds of bias.
Justyna Wydrzynska, the activist in question, expressed that she felt no sense of victory, as she will have to endure another round of legal proceedings.
Wydrzynska was convicted in March 2023 and sentenced to eight months of community service after she sent abortion pills to a woman who was being prevented from using them by her partner. In Poland, assisting someone with an abortion is illegal and can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years, although the woman undergoing the abortion does not face any penalties.
In her appeal, Wydrzynska argued that the ruling judges lacked impartiality, thus undermining the legal process.
Poland’s abortion laws are highly restrictive, allowing the procedure only under specific circumstances: when a woman’s life or health is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.