Honorary judges
In 2029, lay judges will be elected to the Bavarian Administrative Court in Munich. You can register your interest in this honorary position with immediate effect.
Description
Lay judges at the Administrative Court take part in oral proceedings and the reaching of judgements to the same extent and with the same voting rights as professional judges, and bear the same responsibility for the decision. They are therefore subject to a duty of particular loyalty to the Constitution.
The administrative courts generally have jurisdiction over all disputes under public law. The main task of the administrative courts is to review measures taken by public authorities that affect citizens’ rights.
Traditional areas of administrative jurisdiction include, for example, planning law, road traffic law, environmental law, civil service law, local government law, police law, immigration and asylum law, school and higher education law, water law, and disputes concerning local authority charges.
The subject of a hearing may therefore be, for example, a planning application, a dispute over the allocation of university places, or matters relating to driving licences.
Precisely because the administrative courts have to rule on cases relating to everyday life, lay judges participate in the administration of justice alongside professional judges.
The compilation of the shortlist for the election of honorary administrative judges for the term of office from 2025 to 2030 has been completed.
The election of honorary administrative judges for the next term of office, from 1 April 2030 to 31 March 2035, will take place in a two-stage process.
- From June 2029, it is expected that the District Administration Department will draw up a shortlist from among all eligible citizens of Munich, based on the declarations received. The City Council will adopt a resolution on this shortlist.
- The final selection is then made by the Election Committee at the Bavarian Administrative Court in Munich. Only those persons appearing on the shortlist may be elected.
Those appointed will be notified directly by the Bavarian Administrative Court in Munich.
If you are interested in this voluntary role, you can register your interest with us now, with no obligation.
Requirements
The personal eligibility criteria for inclusion on the shortlist are set out in the current provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure (VwGO). The following criteria applied for inclusion on the shortlist for the term of office from 2025 to 2030 (Sections 20 to 22 VwGO):
- German citizenship
- Main or secondary residence in Munich
- You must be at least 25 years old at the start of the term of office on 1 April 2020
Furthermore, you should understand and speak German in order to participate actively in proceedings, and be in good enough health to carry out the voluntary role.
The following persons may not be appointed:
- Persons employed full-time in or for the judiciary (for example, judges, notaries, solicitors and persons who handle legal matters on a commercial basis)
- Civil servants and public sector employees, unless they are acting in a voluntary capacity
- Professional soldiers and conscripts
- Members of the Bundestag, the European Parliament, the legislative bodies of a federal state (Landtag), the Federal Government or a state government
- Persons who have been deprived by a court of the capacity to hold public office, or against whom preliminary proceedings are pending with the possible consequence of such a deprivation
- Persons who have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than six months for an intentional offence
- Persons who do not have the right to vote in elections to legislative bodies
- Persons who have violated the principles of humanity or the rule of law
- Persons who worked, either full-time or unofficially, for the State Security Service of the former GDR
Furthermore, applicants must not be in a state of insolvency nor have made a statutory declaration regarding their assets.
Required documents
To make a non-binding reservation, please use the contact form.
The new forms for inclusion on the shortlist are expected to be available in June or July 2025. We will then send them to you automatically.
Questions & Answers
Exemption from a hearing is only possible if attending would result in serious financial hardship.
Honorary judges receive compensation under the Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act (JVEG) (for example, compensation for loss of earnings, compensation for inconvenience to household management, and reimbursement of travel expenses).
If the required number of lay judges cannot be met by volunteers, individuals will be selected from the Munich register of residents in accordance with the statutory requirements. In principle, anyone who meets the necessary criteria is obliged to accept and carry out the role.
If you belong to one of the following groups, you may refuse the appointment:
-
Clergy and religious ministers
-
Lay assessors and honorary judges in other branches of the judiciary
-
People who have served as lay judges in courts of general administrative jurisdiction for two terms of office
-
Doctors, nurses and midwives
-
Pharmacy managers who do not employ any other pharmacists
-
Persons who have reached the standard retirement age under the Social Security Code (aged 65 or over)
You will be prepared for your role. During a training course, you will receive information about your role, your rights and your duties.
The number of court days is calculated so that each lay judge or each lay judge is expected tobe called upon for a maximum oftwelve court days per year.
People carrying out this voluntary role may be excused from a specific court day for compelling reasons (for example, illness, an accident, holiday or unavoidable and priority work commitments). The decision is made by the presiding judge.
Legal basis
- Article 33 of the Basic Law
- Civil rights: § 28 and §§ 20 - 22 of the Administrative Court Code (VwGO)
Contact
Bürgerbüro Ruppertstraße
Website
Telephone
Postal address
Bürgerbüro Ruppertstraße
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Availability
- Available:Wheelchair access
- Not available:Disabled parking