Another change at the Federal Constitutional Court: Federal Council elects Holger Wöckel
The 47-year-old comes from Chemnitz in Saxony and has worked at the North Rhine-Westphalian Higher Administrative Court in Münster, among other places. He is also already familiar with the Federal Constitutional Court, where he worked as a research assistant from 2019 to the beginning of 2021.
Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) said: "This election is a German-German success story." It is important that "the experiences from the time of upheaval in the former GDR and reunification are also represented by judges at the highest court of the Federal Republic".
A new constitutional judge had already been elected at the end of November: The former Attorney General Peter Frank is to succeed Peter Müller. The swearing-in ceremony by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled for Thursday next week.
Half of the 16 constitutional judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat; their maximum term of office is twelve years. The age limit is 68. This year, the Federal Constitutional Court has already welcomed four new judges before Frank and Wöckel's elections.
In January, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appointed Rhona Fetzer and Thomas Offenloch, in February Martin Eifert. In April, the former Vice President of the Federal Social Court, Miriam Meßling, was appointed as a new constitutional judge.
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The Federal Constitutional Court, located in Karlsruhe, has seen another change with the election of Holger Wöckel. Wöckel, originally from Chemnitz in Saxony, has previously worked at the North Rhine-Westphalian Higher Administrative Court in Münster and was a research assistant at the Federal Constitutional Court from 2019 to early 2021.
This election was hailed as a "German-German success story" by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, highlighting the importance of representatives from the former GDR and reunification at the highest court of the Federal Republic.
The election of Peter Frank as a new constitutional judge was already announced at the end of November. Frank, the former Attorney General, will succeed the incumbent Peter Müller.
The Federal Constitutional Court consists of 16 judges, half of whom are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat. Their maximum term of office is twelve years, and they must retire by the age of 68. This year, the court has already welcomed four new judges before Frank and Wöckel's elections.
In January, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appointed Rhona Fetzer and Thomas Offenloch to the court. In February, Martin Eifert joined the bench, and in April, the former Vice President of the Federal Social Court, Miriam Meßling, was appointed as a new constitutional judge.
Leipzig, another city in Germany, may also be involved in constitutional matters, as the Bundesverwaltungsgericht, or Federal Administrative Court, is located there. This court is responsible for judicial review of administrative acts by federal, state, and local authorities.
The Federal Council, as the representative body of the federal states, plays a significant role in the election of constitutional judges. The council consists of representatives from each of the 16 federal states and is responsible for approving federal laws and appointing members of various high courts, including the Federal Constitutional Court.
Further changes to the Federal Constitutional Court may be on the horizon, as the court continues to adapt to the evolving needs of German society. As a constitutional court, its role is to defend fundamental rights and ensure the separation of powers, making it a vital institution in the German democratic system.
Choosing the right individuals to serve on the Federal Constitutional Court is a critical task, as their decisions have the potential to shape the course of German legal history for generations to come.
Source: www.stern.de
