Ute Sehlbach-Schellenberg was officially introduced as senior public prosecutor

Ute Sehlbach-Schellenberg was officially introduced as senior public prosecutor

The new management of the public prosecutor's office made its official debut in Giessen. Ute Sehlbach-Schellenberg, who has headed the prosecution since February 2023, was recently officially inaugurated into her position at a festive ceremony in a lecture hall at the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM). The event was not only accompanied by legal greats, but also musically by the violinist Marta Danilkovich, who presented both classical melodies and rock songs.

For Sehlbach-Schellenberg, her appointment as senior public prosecutor in March 2023 was the highlight of a long-term career in the Hessian judiciary. “After 34 years of service, I feel comfortable in my job,” she said in her words of thanks. Her beginnings in the legal field go back to 1991, when she passed the second state examination and joined the Giessen public prosecutor's office in 1994. Her career includes various positions, including white-collar crime processing and the agency's press office, and a return to her old place of work in 2016.

The challenges of the public prosecutor's office

In recent years, the Gießen public prosecutor's office, like many others in Hesse, has been confronted with a sharp increase in the number of investigations. This development has not only led to an increased workload, but has also exacerbated staff shortages. Sehlbach-Schellenberg is therefore urgently calling for more staff from the Hessian Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's Office to ensure the quality of the work. “We have to recognize the overload of employees and take action to counteract it,” says the new manager.

The Giessen public prosecutor's office currently employs 566 people and has therefore reached its peak. Justice Minister Christian Heinz praised Sehlbach-Schellenberg for both her leadership style and her commitment to the judiciary. “Their experience and skills are an asset to the authority,” he emphasized in his welcoming remarks. Other high-ranking representatives of the judiciary and the city of Giessen also wished her much success in her new position.

A look at the career

Ute Sehlbach-Schellenberg has not only demonstrated her legal skills, but also personal strengths that are necessary for senior judicial service. She has shown a high level of commitment, flexibility and resilience, qualities that are particularly vital in the current situation. She began her professional career by studying singing before deciding to study law. At the University of Giessen she acquired all the necessary qualifications to establish herself in the Hessian justice system.

The look at her career is rounded off by various secondments, including to the Attorney General's Office in Frankfurt am Main. Returning to the Giessen public prosecutor's office in 2016 marked the end of an impressive professional path characterized by a high level of specialist knowledge and a clear commitment to the judiciary.

During this transition phase, it is important that the public prosecutor's office is well positioned to meet the diverse challenges. Sehlbach-Schellenberg is ready to take on this responsibility, and the events surrounding her inauguration suggest that she is well on her way to further strengthening Giessen as an important location for the judiciary.

For more information about the public prosecutor's offices in Hesse and the required qualifications for aspiring lawyers, it is worth taking a look at the career page of the Hessian judiciary.

The change in the Gießen public prosecutor's office under the leadership of Ute Sehlbach-Schellenberg is being followed with excitement. The next few months will show how well we can tackle the existing challenges and provide new impetus for the local justice system.