Question 19
A lay judge in Germany is …
German original: Eine Gerichtsschöffin / ein Gerichtsschöffe in Deutschland ist …. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- the deputy of the head of the city.
- an honorary female judge / an honorary male judge. — Correct answer
- a member of a municipal council.
- a person who has studied law.
Explanation
A lay judge (Gerichtsschöffe) is an honorary judge. Lay judges are elected by municipal councils and participate in proceedings at district and regional courts.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- lay judge (female) — A lay judge is a female citizen who volunteers to participate in criminal court proceedings in Germany. She is not a trained lawyer but works together with professional judges to decide on guilt and sentencing.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- court — A court is a state institution that resolves legal disputes and issues judgments. It ensures that laws are applied and rights are protected.
- German — German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and part of Switzerland. It is the native language of approximately 100 million people.
- Lay judge / Lay assessor — A lay judge is a volunteer from the general public who participates in court proceedings alongside professional judges and has an equal vote in verdicts. Lay judges are elected from the community and do not need a legal background.
- lay judge (female) — A lay judge is a woman without legal training who voluntarily participates in court proceedings and helps professional judges reach verdicts. She represents the general public in court and has the same voting rights as a professional judge.
- lay judge — A lay judge is a volunteer citizen who participates in court proceedings alongside professional judges and helps decide verdicts. Lay judges are ordinary people elected to serve in this role in the German court system.