In 2015 The Law and Justice party (PIS) comes to power in Poland. The party’s leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, announces total reform of the state and seeks unconstrained power. Independent courts stand in his way.

“Judges under pressure” tells the story of defiant judges who stand in defence of the Constitution and the separation of powers. One of these judges is Igor Tuleya who withstands the pressure and issues verdicts that are unfavourable to those in power. For the government he is public enemy number one; for protesting citizens – the face of the judges’ resistance. In the film we see the consequences of his uncompromising stance, we look at how political pressure affects his life. At the same time, we witness the remarkable solidarity that is shown to him both by other judges and ordinary people.

Meanwhile, a cruel illustration reveals the extent to which the rule of law has been dismantled. After the politicised Constitutional Court decides to severely restrict access to abortions, Poland is swept over by the largest wave of demonstrations in its history. Judges take to the streets hand in hand with ordinary people to defend of the rule of law.