Judicial independence is important because it ensures a fair legal system, protects individual rights, and maintains public trust in the judiciary. On May 18, 2023, the Democracy Index - Georgia and the Georgian Court Watch with the USAID Rule of Law Program’s support, organized a screening of the Polish documentary film titled "Judges Under Pressure."

The event shed light on the restrictions faced by judges in Poland and their resilient fight to protect the constitution and uphold the principle of the separation of powers. The film particularly highlighted the unwavering determination of Judge Igor Tulia in the face of mounting pressure, and showcased the remarkable solidarity demonstrated by his colleagues and Polish citizens. Director of the Documentary, Kacper Lisowski’s documentary was released in 2021 and showcases the urgency and impact of the situation in the country that culminated in one of the biggest protests in Poland’s history in 2020, with both Polish citizens and lawmakers from across Europe taking a stand to defend democracy and prevent authoritarianism.

The opening of the event featured notable speakers such as Irakli Kordzakhia, a Representative of the Group of Independent Lawyers, Eka Tsimakuridze, the Chairman of the Board of Democracy Index - Georgia, and Nazi Janezashvili, the Director of the Georgian Court Watch. Seventy participants attended the event, including judges from the Supreme Court of Georgia and lower instance courts, lawyers, civil society representatives, students and other interested individuals.

Following the film screening, a discussion took place, focusing on the legal measures undertaken by Polish judges to safeguard their independence and the significance of public activism. Igor Tuleya emphasized the importance of communication with the public and the usage of different tools in this process.

The panel consisted of Ketevan Meskhishvili, a judge from the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, Tamar Khazhomia, a judge from the Tbilisi City Court. The judges touched on the issues related to the impact of activism, and self-organization among individual judges, as well as the situation in Georgia in this regard. Polish judges Igor Tuleya and Ioana Hetnajovich-Shikora reflected on the 2020 events in Poland and shared their own experiences on how they managed to mobilize public support

Sofo Verdzeuli, the editor of the law policy direction at the "Comment" platform, served as the moderator for the discussion. The attendees were interested in the current situation and state of the Polish judiciary. The key topics discussed during the event included the usage of the social media, meetings with different audiences and the tools used by judges to self-organize.