Unusual insights: The fight against staff shortages in the judiciary!

Unusual insights: The fight against staff shortages in the judiciary!

The challenges in the judiciary are diverse and affect not only the judges, but the entire system. Dr. Lars Tiemann, former judge at the Jever District Court and now working for the public prosecutor's office, has experienced these problems first hand. He worked in the judiciary from May 2024 to September 2025, after previously spending nine months at the Oldenburg Regional Court and the public prosecutor's office. His decision to go into the judiciary was driven by conviction, even if the offers in the private sector would have been financially more lucrative NWZ Online reported.

The work of a judge is anything but easy. Everyday life is characterized by preparing for proceedings, the hearing itself, hearing from witnesses and weighing up evidence. The number of cases heard per day varies considerably. While on a good day there can be seven to eight wedding proceedings, on other days the courtrooms remain empty. The emotional strain in many cases is particularly challenging, which Tiemann can understand both as a judge and now as a prosecutor. An example of a bizarre case was the soldier who sustained an injury with a frying pan to escape from a training exercise.

Overload and lack of staff

The challenges of justice are not just personal; they are systemic. Corinna Wiggers, judge at the Lübeck District Court, officially plans 315 minutes for a tax evasion trial, but in reality it often takes over 300 hours for similar cases. This shows how heavily the judges in northern Germany are currently overloaded. The increasing duration of procedures is alarming: In the last ten years, they have increased by 15% in Lower Saxony and even by 22% in Schleswig-Holstein, which indicates significant deficits in the personnel sector, such as NDR notes.

The staffing calculation system, known as PEBB§Y, shows that many courts are understaffed. Lower Saxony needs at least 193 full-time positions, while there are currently not enough judges in 87 of 91 courts alone. This not only leads to an overload of existing judges, but also to pressure that could jeopardize the quality of jurisprudence. Judges often signal desired outcomes to appraisers, which points to deeper problems in the appraisal process. Something urgently needs to be done here.

The solution is required

The urgent need for reform in the judiciary also became clear at an event organized by the German Association of Judges and the Schleswig-Holstein Association of Judges. Almost 100 participants discussed the staff shortage and the need to attract young lawyers to a career in the judiciary. In many courts, it is not only the young talent that is criticized, but also the general conditions, for example by improving digital work opportunities and increasing salaries, as stated in the summary DRB is to be read.

The judicial landscape is in transition and the questions are big: How can the overload of the courts be effectively combated? What incentives need to be set to make the justice system more attractive to young people? At a time when digitalization is becoming increasingly important, it is essential that the judiciary not only keeps up with the times, but is also prepared for the future.