Poland's president approved legislation Monday to reinstate more than 20 Supreme Court justices.
They had been forced into early retirement back in July after Poland's right-wing Law and Justice Party passed a law that changed the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 65. It reportedly forced 27 judges off the bench, including the court's chief justice.
Poland's government said the new rules would help strengthen democracy, but critics called the move a purge and thousands of people protested.
The president's reinstatement of the judges came after the European Union's top court ordered the country tosuspend the retirement age law. The court made an interim ruling in October, and Poland's government agreed to repeal the law.
