Police officers at the Constitutional Court in Warsaw.
\n\nPoland's Constitutional Court has been plunged into turmoil after a judge barred from hearing cases ordered the suspension of its president and deputy, prompting accusations of a coup and protests outside the building.
\n\nAnna Korwin-Piotrowska announced on Friday that she was taking charge of the court after ordering its president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy to be suspended for a month. Święczkowski rejected her authority and accused those involved of staging a “coup d'état”. His deputy was turned away at the court's entrance.
\n\nThe confrontation marks a fresh escalation in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's efforts to reverse judicial reforms introduced by the former nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government.
\n\nDuring its eight years in power, PiS appointed judges to the Constitutional Tribunal, including Święczkowski and his deputy. The court became a central point of conflict between Poland and the European Union over judicial independence and the rule of law.
\n\nOutside the court, protesters clashed with police. Officers said objects had been thrown at them and three people were detained after climbing over the building's fence. Police said they had deployed to maintain security following warnings of threats against judges and staff, but…
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