Due to tight budgets, Schleswig-Holstein also wanted to save money in the judiciary – to achieve this, the structure of specialist courts in the state had to be changed. Relevant legislation has now been passed State Parliament passed in Kiel with votes from the government’s CDU and Green Party factions. The SPD, FDP and SSW voted against the draft law.
“I am convinced that with this draft law, based on proposals developed together with the judiciary, we have found a compromise that harmonizes different interests and needs in the best way,” said Justice Minister Kerstin von der Decken (CDU) in the plenary session.
According to the minister, the draft law regulates branches within the social justice system and external space within the labor court system. “This means both jurisdictions remain in the region,” said von der Decken. Branches must manage without any additional administrative structure.
What is planned
The text of the law states: The Neumünster Labor Court will be dissolved and its district will be transferred to the Labor Court. The Elmshorn Labor Court should also be eliminated and in the future function as an external chamber of the Lübeck Labor Court. The Flensburg Labor Court will also be dissolved and housed as an external chamber of the Kiel Labor Court in the Flensburg District Court building.
According to information, the Lübeck Social Court is a branch of the Itzehoe Social Court, and the Schleswig Social Court is a branch of the Kiel Social Court. The merging of locations will result in moving costs of around 150,000 euros.
The merger would create a larger unit that would allow for better compensation for the loss of individual employees. At the same time, this makes planning personnel based on needs and reducing excess capacity easier. Alternatively, keep employment and social justice courts open in a central location in a building Schleswig-Holstein to concentrate.
How much money is saved
This law is intended to provide financial savings. Annual costs for court property will fall by about 1.45 million euros, and the personnel budget will fall by about 2.35 million euros. One-time savings of 378,000 euros are also possible. Apart from that, the potential sales proceeds could bring in around 1.83 million euros.
Protest against reforms
The reform announcement met stiff resistance last year – including in front of state parliament in Kiel demonstrated. In November 2024, Justice Minister Kerstin von der Decken changed the plan. At that time, he promised to reduce the number of labor and social courts less drastically than originally planned.
In his speech to state parliament today, the minister said: “Our biggest priority is to support specialist justice institutions through restructuring.” Relevant local changes will be designed in consultation with everyone involved and appropriate solutions will be sought for all employees.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251119-930-314806/1
