(de-news.net) – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has formally appointed three new justices to the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, marking a significant moment for the country’s highest judicial body. During an official ceremony held at Schloss Bellevue in Berlin, Ann-Kathrin Kaufhold, Sigrid Emmenegger, and Günter Spinner were presented with their certificates of appointment, officially confirming their new roles on the bench.
In his address to the attendees, President Steinmeier underscored the vital importance of safeguarding the Federal Constitutional Court’s impartiality and institutional integrity. He stressed that the court’s reputation as a nonpartisan and independent body is foundational to the rule of law and democratic governance in Germany. Referring to the recent parliamentary proceedings surrounding the selection of the justices, Steinmeier emphasized that all political actors share a collective responsibility to protect the court’s credibility. He issued a pointed warning against the instrumentalization of judicial appointments for party-political purposes, noting that such practices risk undermining public trust in the judiciary.
The Bundestag had elected the three justices approximately ten days prior to the ceremony, although the vote had initially been scheduled for July. The delay stemmed from objections raised by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group against an initial nominee put forward by the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In response to the concerns, the SPD candidate withdrew her candidacy. Subsequently, the SPD nominated legal scholar Sigrid Emmenegger, whose nomination was met with broader acceptance and enabled the completion of the selection process without further controversy.
The appointments of Kaufhold, Emmenegger, and Spinner are expected to strengthen the Federal Constitutional Court’s capacity to adjudicate complex legal and constitutional matters. The applied role will further reinforce the Court’s role as a guardian of democratic principles and fundamental rights in Germany, as is an essential part of its guiding principle with reference to the Basic Law and other legal texts.
(For a more complete coverage of German news about unfolding events and debates, visit GermanPolicy.com.)