Fourth Annual International Symposium on Civilizational Populism: National and International Challenges’
May 22–23, 2025 | University of Warsaw
The European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS) was honored to host Deputy Justice Minister Dariusz Mazur as a keynote speaker at its Fourth Annual International Symposium on "Civilizational Populism: National and International Challenges."
In his address, Deputy Minister Mazur delivered a powerful reflection on the state of the rule of law and judicial independence in Poland. Drawing from over 25 years of service in the Polish judiciary, Mazur addressed how legal institutions can resist authoritarian tendencies and safeguard democratic values in an era of increasing polarization and populist pressure.
Born in Krakow in 1970, Dariusz Mazur began his judicial career at the District Court for Krakow-Podgórze, eventually serving as a judge at the Regional Court in Krakow. From 2010 to 2020, he chaired the 3rd Criminal Division and served as the Coordinator for International Cooperation and Human Rights in Criminal Matters. He has been actively involved in legal education through the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and the National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution, and has authored numerous publications in Polish, English, German, and Czech.
In 2016, he was named “European Judge 2015” by the Polish Section of the International Commission of Jurists for his landmark decision rejecting the extradition of Roman Polanski to the United States. In 2020, he received the Badge of Honor from the Polish Judges’ Association Iustitia for his efforts in defending the judiciary’s independence and raising international awareness about the challenges facing Poland’s legal system.
Deputy Minister Mazur’s keynote emphasized the vital role of judges, legal institutions, and international collaboration in resisting illiberal populism and upholding constitutional democracy.
Outside the courtroom, Mazur has a keen interest in history, rock music, and capoeira regional, a traditional form of Brazilian martial arts.
