The German Federal Constitutional Court faces continued delays in filling vacant positions, prompting calls for swift action from the German Judges Association (DRB). Following the nomination of Sigrid Emmenegger as a new candidate, the DRB urged parliamentary groups to finalize the selection process without further delay.
DRB Federal Managing Director Sven Rebehn emphasized the importance of a timely resolution, stating that it’s hoped all parties recognize their responsibility and the Bundestag swiftly approves the pending appointments.
The previous attempt to elect a judge, the jurist Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, collapsed unexpectedly just before the summer recess, damaging confidence – both within the governing coalition and among the public, who expect a well-conducted and reputable process befitting the Constitutional Court’s stature.
Electing judges to the Federal Constitutional Court requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. Consequently, Emmenegger’s confirmation necessitates not only the votes of the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition factions, but also the support of either the Green Party and The Left, or alternatively, the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The opposition parties have indicated they will scrutinize the proposal. Green Party and The Left representatives have expressed that they were not included in preliminary consultations.