Protest against court reform: Thousands demand proximity to citizens instead of savings!

Protest against court reform: Thousands demand proximity to citizens instead of savings!

Things are boiling in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein: Justice Minister Kerstin von der Decken (CDU) is facing massive resistance while she is planning a comprehensive reform of the court structure. This reform, which envisages merging labor and social courts, has been sharply criticized by numerous judges' associations and unions. What is particularly alarming is the fact that over 3,500 people have already signed a petition opposing the planned changes. A demonstration in front of the state parliament has been announced for this Wednesday, which illustrates the intensity of the dispute.

The current overhaul of the Justice Department is almost symbolic of the problems facing the state government. The minister argues that merging the courts is necessary to achieve savings of up to 63 million euros. The insufficient staff of the public prosecutor's office is brought into the discussion - after all, 25 new positions are to be created. Nevertheless, there is still great skepticism about the minister's savings plans.

Declining accessibility for those in need

Kathrin Gebhardt, social judge and member of the New Association of Judges, warns urgently about the consequences of the planned reform. She emphasizes that clients in social courts are often the most vulnerable members of society, including sick people and people who rely on citizens' benefits due to financial hardship. “The idea of ​​forcing these people to travel across the country to get justice is unsustainable,” says Gebhardt. The emerging uncertainties surrounding the accessibility of the justice system worry both judges and citizens.

In addition to concerns about accessibility, there is the question of the practicality of the planned video conferences, which are cited as a way to relieve the burden on the courts. Gebhardt points out that many district courts are already overloaded and cannot afford to take on more mandates or rent additional premises that meet the necessary standards.

The DGB and the concerns of the employees

The concerns of those working in the justice sector cannot be overlooked. Frank Hornschu, managing director of the DGB in the Kiel region, criticizes the possible compulsory commuter regulation, which could be unreasonable for many employees. “The distance between people and the rule of law must not increase,” he warns. The pressure on employees could lead to qualified specialists looking for other, more accessible administrative jobs.

In addition, the Greens, the CDU's coalition partners, are also skeptical. They are demanding evidence of the claimed savings because they are concerned about the impact on citizen proximity. Bernd Buchholz from the FDP parliamentary group finds the idea of ​​sending volunteer judges throughout Schleswig-Holstein not very practical.

Given this mixed situation, the session in the state parliament will certainly be exciting. Although the justice minister is optimistic and believes that she is pushing ahead with her reforms, the large number of voices against the planned changes could jeopardize her ambitions. The facade work on the Ministry of Justice could therefore be completed faster than the legal reforms, and the uncertainties within the justice system remain.

For further information about upcoming developments, we recommend checking out the current reporting www.ndr.de to pursue.