Ausgabejahr 2025
Erscheinungsdatum 30.10.2025

Nr. 198/2025

A ceremony attended by around 750 invited guests was held today, 30 October 2025, in the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Public Prosecution Office. The main speech was delivered by Federal President Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, the Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr Frank Mentrup, and the President of the Bar at the Federal Court of Justice, Dr Brunhilde Ackermann, all gave welcoming addresses. The Finefones Saxophone Quartet, led by Peter Lehel, provided the musical accompaniment.

The judiciary was represented at the ceremony by, among others, the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Prof Dr Koen Lenaerts, members of the Federal Constitutional Court, the presidents of the supreme federal courts and numerous representatives of the judiciary in the federal states and other European countries, including Ukraine. The Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Dr Stefanie Hubig, ministers from the federal states, Members of the European Parliament, of the German Bundestag and of the federal state parliaments, representatives of federal and state authorities, the churches and other religious communities, as well as various associations were also in attendance.

Following a short film entitled “Die verschwundenen Worte” (The Missing Words) produced by students at Stuttgart Media University in cooperation with the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Public Prosecution Office, the President of the Federal Court of Justice, Bettina Limperg, gave the opening address. She stressed how phenomenally important it was for all in public authority to be willing to engage in dialogue: “The administration of justice, too, lives by dialogue, which naturally also involves listening. Democracy and the law are not instruments for enforcing power – they first and foremost need to be firmly rooted in a mindset that cares deeply about people and their dignity. It is only then that the law can succeed in fulfilling its regulatory and security function and people can continue to trust in state structures.”

“For 75 years now, the Federal Court of Justice and the Federal Public Prosecution Office have diligently been doing their part to enforce the law and ensure that it is interpreted and applied uniformly in the field of criminal and civil law,” Federal President Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in his speech. “I know that these tasks, in terms of both quantity and quality, are not easy to perform. And we are all aware that they will not become any easier in the future. For this reason, too, I hope that our judiciary, at all levels, is not only accorded the respect it deserves but also has access to the resources it needs, even in times of painful fiscal consolidation debate.”

In his closing speech, Federal Public Prosecutor General Jens Rommel said: “What has been achieved can not only be made tangible by citing the number of proceedings, actions and rulings. Above all, it is found in the trust that is placed in ‘Karlsruhe’ as a whole. Our motivation and our commitment are directed at maintaining the high standard that has been achieved while remaining open to new developments in state and society.” He thanked those taking part in the ceremony before inviting everyone to join the reception which followed.

Karlsruhe, 30 October 2025