The German Judges’ Association expressed concerns that the justice system in Germany is falling behind technologically. Sven Rebehn, the national director of the association, told the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” that without tailored AI support, the judiciary will struggle to keep pace with the new wave of lawsuits created using artificial intelligence across numerous courts. He pointed out that while law firms are already using AI assistance, and consumers are increasingly approaching local or social courts with AI-generated legal documents themselves, the judiciary as a whole is lagging behind the technical evolution.
Rebehn intensified the pressure on the individual states to move beyond simply transitioning digitally and to accelerate this process within the justice sector. He noted that promised AI assistance programs, which could quickly structure lengthy documents or offer initial decisions, are still delayed.
While promising pilot projects featuring AI for mass proceedings, such as passenger claims or rental disputes, do exist, Rebehn stated that these AI tools are not expected to be widely deployed until 2027 at the earliest. He concluded by saying that impatience is mounting among judges, public prosecutors, and administrative offices, all of whom are awaiting sophisticated applications that can genuinely streamline working life and accelerate legal processes.
