A false role model of the Polish Bar. On the Jerzy Nowakowski (1912-1996)

This article is a first attempt of a biographical study of Jerzy Nowakowski, a well-known Warsaw-based barrister, esteemed defense attorney in criminal trials, good writer and a local council activist in the second half of the XXth century. Author uncovers many as yet unknown aspects of Barrister Nowakowski’s life, especially from the Stalinist period when he worked as a prosecutor for the communist administration of justice. After moving to the Bar in 1950, he became one of the more trusted attorneys of the regime which is confirmed by his position among military defense attorneys. He defended in numerous political trials but – as it was indicated already in 1956 – many of them were a rather sympathetic form of participation in communist “judicial crimes”.

Keywords: Polish Bar in XXth century, Bar Council during the Polish People’s Republic, Poland in the Stalinist period, administration of justice of the Polish People’s Republic, defense in political trials 

This article is published in Polish