Polish President Andrzej Duda has appointed 27 new Supreme Court judges amid the ongoing rule-of-law row between Warsaw and the European Union. Duda's appointments come on the heels of the EU referring Poland to the Court of Justice over the early retirement of judges. The right-wing Polish government earlier this year lowered the retirement age of judges, forcing many to retire. Opponents say judges' nominations are now political decisions, undermining democracy and judicial independence in the country. Press reports indicate journalists were not allowed to witness the inauguration ceremony.