Poland's Supreme Court asks EU's top court about judicial retirement

The Polish Supreme Court (SN) has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) five questions concerning the recent law that cut the retirement age of SN judges to 65 from 70, Krzysztof Michałowski of the court's press service told PAP. The Polish court also suspended the application of the provisions of the Supreme Court law that define the retirement principles for SN judges, Michałowski also said. The five questions are related to "the principle of court independence and impartiality as principles of EU law and the EU's prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of age." The questions to the CJEU result from a legal query that the Polish Supreme Court is currently hearing and its doubts as to whether two SN judges that are over 65 can deal with the case. The decision to suspend the application of the new retirement rules is "in line with the Court of Justice of the European Union's past rulings," Michałowski noted, calling the move "a security measure".