Judge Jerzy Stępień is a unique and multidimensional figure. In 1969 he graduated from law studies at the University of Warsaw, in 1969-1971 he completed judicial training, in 1971-1973 he was an assessor, then a judge of the District Court in Kielce, and from 1975 of the District Court. From 1979 to 1989, he was a legal advisor.   From the time of his studies, he was an active opposition activist with a significant tendency to risk his own student and then professional life, he took part in the strikes of 1980, co-founded the Independent Self-governing Trade Union "Solidarity" of the Świętokrzyskie Region, of which he was the Vice-Chairman. Interned under martial law for a year and then temporarily arrested for appealing to members of the banned Solidarity and sentenced to one year's imprisonment with conditional suspension, arrested again in March 1984 for distributing then illegal publications, released under amnesty after three months he continued to operate in the democratic opposition. Participant of the Round Table. Senator of the 1st and 2nd terms, at that time he co-created the foundations of independent local government, reformer of State Administration. From 1997 to 1999, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the father of local government in a practical sense, author of countless publications related to reforms and transformations of local government and administration reforms from constitutional foundations to local shape. In June 1999, he was elected by the Sejm as a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal. On November 4, 2006, the President of the Republic of Poland appointed him to the position of president of the Constitutional Tribunal; he took up this position on November 6, 2006 (he was the first president of this institution without the academic title of professor, and yet the entire Constitutional Tribunal respected him for his competence and insight). On June 25, 2008, he ended his term of office. In the term of office: October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2018, Vice-Rector of Lazarski University. Judge Stępień also remains active in the area of teaching and scientific research - at Lazarski University he developed the English-language Master of Public Administration studies and also headed the Institute of Civic Space and Social Policy. During the ceremony, speeches were delivered by the Rector of Lazarski University - prof. Ph.D. Maciej Rogalski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration – Ph.D. Anna Konert, prof. UŁa, Reviewer of the Doctor Honoris Causa – prof. Ph.D. Marek Safjan and the Mayor of Sandomierz - Marcin Marzec, who, in recognition of Jerzy Stępień's activities for local governments, presented the DHC with a commemorative statuette. The judge was also honored with a special statuette by the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of Lazarski University for years of fruitful cooperation as a lecturer and colleague. The laudation preceding the reading and awarding of the Doctor Honoris Causa diploma was delivered by Jerzy Stępień's supervisor - prof. Ph.D. Ryszard Stefański. The event was honored with the presence of many distinguished personalities from the world of politics, science and culture, including Ewa Łętowska, Hanna Suchocka, Adam Bodnar, Olgierd Łukaszewicz and Grażyna Marzec, Krystyna Kofta, Włodzimierz Kiniorski, Henryk Sawka, Tomasz Tłuczkiewicz and many others. The artistic part of the ceremony included a jazz concert with the participation of outstanding musicians, such as Michał Urbaniak, Czesław "Mały" Bartkowski, Bartosz Stępień and Marta Sobczak. There was also a musical surprise waiting for the guests - the hero of the event himself - Jerzy Stępień, a talented musician and practicing saxophonist, who has been associated with the Polish music scene for years, performed in front of the audience.