Witold Kulesza

Professor Witold Kulesza is a distinguished academic at the University of Lodz, where he serves as a Professor in the Department of Criminal Law within the Faculty of Law and Administration. His career spans over five decades at the university, beginning as a student who graduated with honors in 1973. He has held numerous academic positions including assistant, adjunct, extraordinary professor, and finally achieving the title of Professor of Legal Sciences in 2015.

Professor Kulesza's research interests focus on criminal law, legal history, transitional justice, and the investigation of Nazi and communist crimes. His scholarly work prominently features analyses of judicial crimes, war crimes, Holocaust-related legal issues, and the protection of national dignity. He has pioneered research on the concept of 'Auschwitz lie' (kłamstwo oświęcimskie) in Polish criminal law. His innovative approach includes using fairy tales to teach criminal law concepts, as evidenced by his 2024 monograph 'Koszałki-Opałki, czyli prawo karne w bajkach' (Criminal Law in Fairy Tales).

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on historical legal analysis, particularly regarding Nazi occupation courts, judicial responsibility during totalitarian regimes, and post-war justice mechanisms. Recent works (2020-2025) show continued engagement with contemporary legal issues through historical lenses, including analyses of denunciation practices, judicial crimes, and modern applications of historical legal concepts.

• Złota Odznaka UŁ (1997)
• Medal Komisji Edukacji Narodowej (1998)
• Krzyż Zasługi na Wstędze Orderu Zasługi Republiki Federalnej Niemiec (2001)
• Krzyż Oficerski Orderu Republiki Węgierskiej (2003)
• Medal honorowy 'Zasłużony dla Ziemi Wieluńskiej' (2004)
• Medal Dnia Pamięci Ofiar Zbrodni Katyńskiej (2009)
• Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski (2011)
• Krzyż Oficerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski (2015)
• Nagroda im. Edwarda Wende (2004)
• Nagroda im. Hosenfelda/Szpilmana (2015)

Professor Kulesza has supervised 1 habilitation, 4 doctoral theses, and over 250 master's theses. He has served as a reviewer for 9 doctoral, 3 habilitation, and 2 professorial qualification proceedings. Beyond academia, he has held significant public roles including Director of the Main Commission for Investigation of Crimes against the Polish Nation (1998-2006) and Deputy Prosecutor General. He was instrumental in drafting the law establishing the Institute of National Remembrance, which introduced the criminal offense of 'Auschwitz lie' into Polish law.

His scholarly activities extend to international collaboration, with research stays at universities in Giessen, Antwerp, and the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg. He has lectured extensively across Europe and at international institutions including the Interpol headquarters in Lyon and the Institute for the Study of Communist Crimes in Prague.