Judicial crisis in MV: Higher regional judge sounds the alarm about staff shortages!

Judicial crisis in MV: Higher regional judge sounds the alarm about staff shortages!

In the current discourse about the judiciary in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the signs point to a storm. At the forefront of this discussion is Kai-Uwe Theede, President of the Rostock Higher Regional Court. He raised the alarm in a recent press release and criticized the abuses in the justice system. The reaction is multifaceted, with Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt explaining her perspective in an extremely quick response.

Bernhardt counters the criticism and emphasizes that the higher regional court's personnel requirements do not correspond to the available figures. In her opinion, the regular courts are adequately staffed because the workload per position is less than 100 percent. Particularly noteworthy is her statement about the importance of adequately equipping the courts and public prosecutor's offices, which is essential for the functioning of the judiciary. Meanwhile, Theede points to the reality of a shortage of at least 75 years of judge work in the past ten years, which means that citizens often have to wait up to four years for decisions in medical malpractice cases.

The pressure on the Minister of Justice

The burgeoning criticism from the CDU opposition makes it clear that the current situation can no longer be ignored. Sebastian Ehlers, legal policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, sharply attacked the minister and emphasized that sugarcoating was not enough. His statement that Bernhardt lives in an “illusory world” illustrates how serious the situation in the justice system actually is. The demand for serious relief for the overburdened courts is becoming louder and louder.

The statistics demonstrate the concerns that plague both the public and the judiciary itself. Since 2021, over 100 new trial judges have been hired and the number of trainees has even tripled, but that is apparently not enough to fix the structural problems. The length of the procedure is not just a number; it has a direct impact on the lives of people waiting for justice.

The Rostock Higher Regional Court

The Rostock Higher Regional Court, which has resided in a magnificent neo-Gothic brick building on the Rosengarten since July 1, 1992, has an important function in the country's legal system. Visitors can follow the public proceedings of the 23 senates, which sheds a transparent light on the judiciary. In the district of ordinary jurisdiction in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there are a total of four regional courts and numerous district courts, together with around 1,400 employees, including around 300 judges.

The importance of a functioning justice system is unmistakable. Citizens must be able to trust that their concerns will be dealt with promptly and fairly. This requires not only a sufficient number of judges, but also an awareness of the needs and concerns of the population.

A structured and basic legal orientation is important to help citizens understand and enforce their rights and obligations. According to information from the Ministry of Justice, defendants can hire a defense attorney at any time, which is a fundamental safeguard of their rights. A well-functioning legal system is the foundation of a sustainable society.

It remains to be seen how developments will develop in the coming weeks. One thing is certain, however: the challenges within the judiciary in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are more urgent than ever, and active measures are needed to improve the situation and do justice to the citizens.

Further information on the topics can be found here: Northern Courier, MV Justice, and Government MV.