[2] On 24 August 1929, Kurska was born in Lviv, Poland (in modern-day Ukraine), to Tadeusz Modzelewski (of Polish Nobility origin) and Teodora Niemirowska (sister of Lewis Bernstein Namier).

Teodora was born to Józef Bernstein aka Niemirowski and Anna Sommerstein, both of Jewish origin.

In 1955, Kurska earned law degree from University of Warsaw.

[3][4] She was dismissed from her position in September 1981 as part of the introduction of martial law.

[3][4] In 1998 she regained her rights to practise law, and operated a law office in Tczew for two years, until she was re-nominated as a judge[4] In 2009, Kurska received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta from Polish President Lech Kaczynski.