The Supreme Court is a judicial authority that supervises the activities of common and military courts in the area of adjudication. It also performs other functions specified in the Constitution and statutes.

The history of the institution dates back to 1917, when the Supreme Court was established as the first institution of the reborn Polish state. Since then, it has been the central organ of the judiciary, separate from the legislature and executive. It consists of independent, irremovable judges who are competent to hear cases as a court of cassation and ensure the uniformity of case law in line with the principle of the rule of law.

Nowadays, the task of the Supreme Court in the field of justice is to ensure the legality and uniformity of the jurisprudence of common and military courts by examining appeals and adopting resolutions on legal issues. The Supreme Court also administers justice by exercising extraordinary control over final court rulings in order to ensure their compliance with the principle of a democratic state governed by the rule of law, which implements the principles of social justice; to this end, it hears extraordinary appeals.

The Supreme Court is also competent to hear disciplinary cases within the scope specified by law, to hear election protests and to confirm the validity of elections to the Sejm and Senate, the election of the President of the Republic of Poland, elections to the European Parliament, and examining protests against the validity of national referendums and constitutional referendums, and confirming the validity of referendums. The Supreme Court is also responsible for issuing opinions on draft laws and other normative acts on the basis of which courts adjudicate and operate, as well as other draft laws to the extent that they affect matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. In addition, the Supreme Court performs other activities specified in the statutes.

The Supreme Court is headed by the First President of the Supreme Court, who is appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland for a six-year term from among the active judges of the Supreme Court. The President of the Republic of Poland selects from among five candidates presented by the General Assembly of Judges of the Supreme Court and may be reappointed only once. Since 26 May 2020, the First President of the Supreme Court has been Dr Małgorzata Manowska.

The President of the Supreme Court directs the work of a given chamber of the Supreme Court. He or she is appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland, after consultation with the First President of the Supreme Court, for a three-year term from among three candidates selected by the assembly of judges of the chamber of the Supreme Court and may be reappointed only twice. The Presidents of the Supreme Court are: Prof. Joanna Misztal-Konecka, PhD – Civil Chamber; Zbigniew Kapiński – Criminal Chamber; Dr Krzysztof Wiak – Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber; Wiesław Kozielewicz – Professional Liability Chamber.