Before the nationwide election of lay judges next year, an information campaign about volunteering as a judge will be launched at the Bavarian adult education centers (VHS). According to the Aldermen’s Association and the Adult Education Center Association, by March 2023 throughout Bavaria more than 60 events plannedto make the “unknown voluntary work” better known and to attract candidates.
According to the Ministry of Justice, more than 4,600 lay judges are currently active in the Free State, and their term of office ends in 2024. The lay judges, as representatives of the people, take part in processes in local and regional courts and have the same voting rights as the full-time judges when reaching a verdict – even if in practice, they usually orientate themselves on their expertise.
“You don’t have to have any legal knowledge to do volunteer work,” the adult education center association and the association of lay judges announced in a joint announcement. Anyone interested in the office of lay judge only has to have German citizenship and be between 25 and 69 years old. The term of office is five years.