http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/40c1cd516ac7885c https://verfassungsblog.de/schrodingers-judges/ Schrödinger’s Judges - Challenges to the Rule of Law Restoration in Poland Stambulski, Michał eng 2024-12-19 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 European Court of Justice Poland Rechtsstaat Rule of Law Rechtsstaat Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 What happens when judges are both legitimate and illegitimate at the same time? In post-2023 Poland, tension arises between ‘old judges’ (pre-2018), accusing ‘neo-judges’ of ethical compromise, and the new government, which aims to maintain judicial continuity. As a result, neo-judges find themselves in a state akin to Schrödinger's cat, their legitimacy simultaneously affirmed and denied. This paradox encapsulates the broader struggle over judicial authority and political influence in the country.