The
Sign up for free.
The Landgericht Freiburg is a modern court of ordinary jurisdiction and part of the Baden-Württemberg judiciary. It belongs to the district of the Oberlandesgericht Karlsruhe and is centrally located in Freiburg im Breisgau[1]. The judicial district comprises approximately 780,000 inhabitants and ten local courts – Breisach, Emmendingen, Ettenheim, Freiburg im Breisgau, Kenzingen, Lörrach, Müllheim, Staufen, Titisee-Neustadt and Waldkirch[1].
As a court of ordinary jurisdiction, the Landgericht Freiburg is primarily responsible for deciding on civil law disputes – i.e. for legal issues between private individuals and companies, for example in contract, compensation or company law matters[3]. In addition, it is responsible for criminal cases and administrative offenses both in the first instance and in the appeal and complaint instance[5]. Another important task is voluntary jurisdiction, e.g. in guardianship, accommodation and deprivation of liberty cases[3]. The distribution of business is carried out according to defined criteria in the business distribution plan in order to guarantee the principle of the legal judge[4].
The main mission of the Landgericht is independent, impartial and constitutional jurisdiction according to democratic principles. It ensures that disputes are resolved fairly and comprehensibly, and offers legal seekers a transparent procedural structure. The constitutional principle "No one may be deprived of their legal judge" is at the heart of the action[4]. The Landgericht Freiburg sees itself as a service provider for citizens, pursues a factual and respectful approach to all parties involved in the proceedings and attaches importance to comprehensibility, efficiency and a professional appearance.
The court is divided into various chambers and departments, each of which is responsible for different subject areas. This structure enables appropriate, expert and nationally standardized jurisdiction. The management of the court is the responsibility of a presidium, which is elected by the judges of the house and is responsible for the distribution of business within the court[4]. In addition to judicial administration and the organization of court proceedings, the tasks of the administration also include the general swearing-in of interpreters and the apostilles and legalization of domestic documents[8].
The Landgericht Freiburg sees itself as an open institution for citizens. Information about procedures, the role of the parties, witnesses, lay judges and experts is easily accessible. However, in its role as a neutral body, the court is obliged not to provide legal advice outside of the specific proceedings – this task is taken over by lawyers[6]. For people with financial difficulties, there is the possibility to apply for advice or legal aid[6].
Although the traditional focus of the court's work is on jurisdiction and administration, the Landgericht Freiburg strives for a modern, citizen-friendly justice system. The buildings – including the rebuilt Palais Sickingen – symbolize the connection between tradition and progress[1]. The judiciary ensures the use of digital communication channels and technical aids to speed up processes and increase transparency. Security aspects are also a high priority: visitors and parties involved in the proceedings must have weapons and dangerous objects checked at the court entrance control in order to ensure security in the court[7].
The Landgericht Freiburg is a central player in the Baden-Württemberg judiciary, which guarantees efficient, fair and understandable jurisdiction for everyone for millions of people in the region. Through its clear division of tasks, its orientation towards democratic values and its striving for modernization and transparency, it makes a significant contribution to legal peace. The court's work thrives on the trust of society – strengthening and justifying this trust is the core mission of the Landgericht Freiburg[3][6].
