The office of lay assessor is a responsible honorary position. Above all, it requires life experience and knowledge of human nature.
The volunteers support the professional judges at the district or regional court. The judge is always assisted by two lay assessors. In a trial, the accused, the witnesses and the public prosecutor have their say. The lay judges listen, can also ask questions and then pronounce a verdict in the "name of the people", which is then announced by the judge.
This motivated Klaus-Dieter Wicht to apply for the Braunschweig district court as a lay assessor after his active career. "The Basic Law states that all state authority emanates from the people. The lay assessors therefore represent the people," says the lay assessor, who has been an honorary lay assessor for nine years and would have been happy to apply again if it weren't for the statutory age requirement of 70.
Knowledge of human nature and a healthy sense of justice are important for this honorary position. The pensioner has already taken part in various trials and got to know a wide variety of people. "It's exciting and involves a great deal of responsibility, because we lay assessors pass judgment with the judge," says Klaus-Dieter Wicht. Lay judges therefore also make an important contribution to society.
This was also the reason for Claudia Nowak to apply to be a lay judge. She read the call five years ago, applied, was included in the list of candidates and, after the election (see below), became a lay assessor at the local court (juvenile court). "We get an insight into other worlds," says the volunteer. As a youth court judge, the principle of "education before punishment" applies. As a lay assessor, she wants to put the young people before the youth court on the right path. That is why it is important to listen during the hearings, to know all the background information and then to make a decision as a team.
She has already made her own decision to apply for this important honorary position and has sent off her application.
Applications can be submitted using this form (opens in a new tab).
Information: City of Salzgitter is looking for lay assessors
- The city of Salzgitter is looking for 118 candidates for the office of lay assessor (64 adults for the Salzgitter district court and Braunschweig regional court as well as 28 women and 26 men as juvenile lay assessors) for the financial years 2024 to 2028.
- Citizens have until the end of February to add their names to the list of candidates for election.
- This list is used to prepare the new elections for the Salzgitter district court and the criminal chambers at Braunschweig district court (for detailed information, see all about the election).
- Lay judges hear and decide criminal and juvenile criminal proceedings on an equal footing with professional judges.
- In this honorary office, life experience and knowledge of human nature are required above all, rather than legal expertise. The legal framework is explained by the professional judges if necessary. The verdict is reached jointly and the sentence is determined.