On Monday, the European Commission referred Poland to the European Court of Justice over the government's widely criticized legislation that forces 27 Supreme Court judges - including the chief judge - into early retirement. The decision is part of the ongoing rule of law procedure against Poland. The EC argues certain amendments passed by Warsaw are "incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges." This is the first case where the EC has used the rule of law procedure against a member state for weakening democracy.