Judges, Independence and the Rule of Law in Germany

Germany’s judiciary is rooted in long-standing institutional traditions that took shape in the final decades of the nineteenth century. One of its defining features is the prominent role played by the federal and Land Ministers of Justice in the administration of the courts. For many years, the German judicial system attracted limited scrutiny from EU institutions and was often treated as a point of reference. But is this reputation fully justified? This book offers a comprehensive analysis of federal legislation and selected Länder regulations supported by examples of their application. It considers the assessments formulated by EU institutions, including the case law of the CJEU and the European Commission’s rule of law report. The study enables readers to explore both the strengths and the weaknesses of the German model. At the same time, it provides a broader insight into the mechanisms through which the EU monitors member states’ compliance with the rule of law.