The Amelia and Oscar Fode Memorial Law Lecture will be presented by Global Jurist of the Year, Igor Tuleya – district court judge for the Warsaw, Poland District Court.

The lecture will be held in the VandeWalle Courtroom at the School of Law on Thursday, August. 22, beginning at 4:00 p.m. A reception will be held following the lecture. This event is free and open to the public.

Judge Tuleya serves in the criminal division of the Regional Court in Warsaw. He is known for his criticism of the state’s judicial reforms, which he sees as a threat to the independence of the Polish judiciary.

In the aftermath of a controversial ruling made by Judge Tuleya, the Polish government implemented legislation amending judicial proceedings. The most criticized new law, popularly referred to as a “muzzle” law, empowered a disciplinary chamber to bring proceedings against judges for questioning the ruling party’s platform — the Law and Justice Party at the time. The law also allowed the Polish government to fire judges, or cut their salaries, for speaking out against legislation aimed at the court, or for questioning the legitimacy of new court appointees.

In opposition to the new rules, Tuleya was publicly outspoken and submitted a request to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling on the new disciplinary regime for judges.  After another high profile trial overseen by Judge Tulelya, the judge was accused of disciplinary misconduct, his judicial immunity was lifted, and he was suspended from the judiciary.  In 2022, The European Court of Human Rights reviewed the case and found a host of process violations and ordered that Tuleya be reinstated.

In February, 2024 Judge Tuleya was named Global Jurist of the Year by Northwestern Pritzker School of Law for his commitment to judicial integrity and independence. The annual award honors a sitting judge who has shown commitment to human rights and the rule of law in the face of adversity.

More information on Judge Tuleya and Poland’s current judiciary

The Fode Lecture was established in memory of Amelia and Oscar Fode through a gift made to the UND Foundation by Della Mae Ramstad in honor of her parents. The fund is designated to bring international legal experts to the School of Law.