Implementation of the Principle of Open Proceedings Before Administrative Courts During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

The introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus epidemic on March 20, 2020 resulted in changes in the functioning of the Polish administrative judiciary in the field of examining administrative court cases. The solutions provided for in Art. 15 zzs4 of the Covid act provide for the possibility of conducting a court-administrative hearing in a differentiated mode with the consent of the party to the proceedings. Moreover, the powers of the head of the division in the field of hearing cases in administrative courts are significantly modified. At the same time, it should be noted that the provision of Art. 182 p.p.s.a. relating to the examination of cassation complaints by the Supreme Administrative Court. The threat to human health and life caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus made it necessary to adapt the functioning of administrative courts to the changed reality in such a way as not to eliminate the threat to the parties to the proceedings by introducing the possibility of holding a hearing in a place or hearing the case in closed session. The solution enabling the parties to participate in a remote hearing affects the implementation of the principle of open proceedings.