Anti-govt protesters rally near Supreme Court in Warsaw against forced retirements of judges

Anti-government protesters rallied Wednesday in front of Poland’s Supreme Court in Warsaw. They showed support for the rule of law and for the court’s president, who is being forced to retire under a new judicial overhaul. The crowd chanted “Judges are not removable!” as the court’s First President Malgorzata Gersdorf showed up for work, saying that according to the constitution, her six-year term runs through 2020, AP said. Gersdorf thanked the crowd and said she was acting to protect Poland’s rule of law. Protests started this week after the ruling party mandated a new lower retirement age for Supreme Court justices. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the European Parliament on Wednesday that EU countries have the right to shape their courts according to the own traditions.