Several weeks before the original deadline, not all courts in Berlin managed to switch to electronic filing. According to Senator Judge Felor Badenberg (CDU), the introduction of electronic files is a “particular challenge”, especially in criminal proceedings. Nevertheless, he tried hard Berlin continues to aim to complete the changes by at least early 2026.
This is the stated aim of 15 of the 16 federal states, as a recent survey conducted by the Association of German Judges among justice ministries shows. After that, only Saxony-Anhalt wanted to use the newly granted deadline extension. The country is said to be far behind in the shift to digital process files. Electronic files are supposed to be introduced in all countries by the end of 2025. This has been the case for about ten years.
Different systems slow down development
“It is time for the states to complete the switch to electronic files in the judiciary as a whole,” Sven Rebehn, the Federal Managing Director of the German Judges Association, told the German Press Agency. “Time pressures this fall at the end of the long-term introduction phase exposed problems that have persisted in recent years.” A fragmented IT landscape and disparate systems will slow development.
The switch to e-file has so far created additional work in daily life at the court – while an AI-powered assistance system for faster processing of bulk cases is still a long way off, Rebehn said.
Although the transition has been completed in some civil and special courts in other countries, these electronic files have caused problems in many public prosecutor’s offices and criminal courts. This also applies in Berlin. “This is where a large number of procedures, especially the urgency and connections to various actors in the courts, the prosecutor’s office and the police authorities come together,” explained Senator Badenberg.
State administrative courts will change from 2024
But in the case of specialist courts, the changes have been happening for a long time: according to the justice administration, administrative courts and higher administrative courts have been completely transformed since November 2024. In the Social Court, the largest in Germany, all 208 chambers have been using e-file since May this year.
According to the justice administration, more than a quarter of a million files are stored electronically in ordinary courts, which deal with family or civil matters, among other things. It is said that operation is stable despite the volume of data.
According to previous information from the justice administration, a total of twelve courts with more than 3,000 employees will be transformed in Berlin. The cost of this is estimated at around 41 million euros. According to information, around 80 percent has been used as of September.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251123-930-328253/1
