das  Berufungsverfahren

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʁuːfʊŋsfɛɐ̯ˌfaːʁən/

🏛️ What exactly is a Berufungsverfahren?

The German word Berufungsverfahren (neuter, article: das) refers to a specific *legal process* within the German judicial system. It's the procedure of appeal against a judgment from a court of first instance. A party dissatisfied with the initial ruling can request a higher court (Berufungsgericht) to review it.

It's a specific legal term. Unlike a Revision (another type of appeal focusing only on errors of law), a Berufungsverfahren allows for the re-evaluation of facts and the introduction of new evidence (it's a *Tatsacheninstanz* - an instance dealing with facts).

🚨 Important: The only article for this word is das. It has a clearly defined meaning in the legal context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Berufungsverfahren

The word "Berufungsverfahren" is a neuter noun (Neutrum).

Example Sentences

• Die Partei legte gegen das Urteil Berufung ein, was das Berufungsverfahren einleitete.
  (The party appealed the judgment, which initiated the appeal proceedings.)
• Das Berufungsverfahren findet vor dem Landgericht statt.
  (The appeal proceedings take place before the regional court.)
• Die Kosten des Berufungsververfahrens sind oft erheblich.
  (The costs of the appeal proceedings are often considerable.)
• Im Rahmen des Berufungsverfahrens wurden neue Zeugen gehört.
  (New witnesses were heard during the appeal proceedings.)

📝 When to use 'das Berufungsverfahren'?

The term das Berufungsverfahren is used almost exclusively in a *legal context* in German. It describes the formal process of challenging a first-instance court judgment before a higher court.

• Typical Use Cases: In legal documents written by lawyers (Anwälte), in court rulings (Urteile), in legal literature (juristische Fachliteratur), and in news reports about court cases.
• Distinction from similar terms:
  • Einspruch: An objection against certain official or court decisions (e.g., penalty orders - Strafbefehl, tax assessments - Steuerbescheid), often less formal and comprehensive than a Berufung.
  • Beschwerde: An appeal against court decisions that are not judgments (e.g., orders - Beschlüsse).
  • Revision: An appeal against an appeal judgment (or directly against a first-instance judgment under certain conditions), which only reviews errors of law (Rechtsfehler), not questions of fact.

It's a formal term designating a clearly defined legal procedure. You'll rarely encounter it in everyday conversation unless discussing specific legal cases.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article 'das': Think of das Verfahren (the procedure/process). Many German nouns ending in '-fahren' that describe a process are neuter. This helps remember 'das Berufungsverfahren'. It's *the* (das) specific procedure.

Meaning 'Appeal Proceedings': Imagine someone making a formal call (Berufung involves 'rufen' - *to call*) to a higher authority (court) to review a case. This call initiates *the procedure* - das Berufungsverfahren.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Berufungsverfahren

⚠️ Similar but Different Terms:

• Die Berufung: The *appeal* itself, i.e., the legal remedy or application to initiate the procedure. Das Berufungsverfahren is the process triggered by the Berufung.
• Der Beruf: The *profession* or *job*. Completely different meaning!

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Wollen Sie Berufung einlegen?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Nein danke, Herr Richter. Ich bin mit meinem Beruf als Schreiner eigentlich ganz zufrieden!"

English Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Do you want to file an appeal (Berufung einlegen)?"
The defendant replies: "No thank you, Your Honor. I'm actually quite happy with my profession (Beruf) as a carpenter!"

(This plays on the similarity between 'Berufung' (appeal) and 'Beruf' (profession).)

📜 A Poem about the Procedure

German:
Das Urteil fiel, die erste Schlacht geschlagen,
Doch eine Partei will es nicht ertragen.
Sie ruft die nächste Instanz nun an,
Damit man neu verhandeln kann.
Das Berufungsverfahren, lang und schwer,
Bringt Aktenberge hin und her.
Auf Fakten, Recht wird neu geschaut,
Bis man dem letzten Zweifel traut.

English Translation:
The verdict fell, the first battle fought,
But one party cannot bear the thought.
They call upon the next instance now,
So deliberations new allow.
The appeal proceeding, long and hard,
Brings mountains of files to disregard
Or scrutinize; facts, law reviewed anew,
Until the final doubt rings true.

❓ Who am I? A Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Weg, kein leichter Pfad,
Nach einem Urteil, früh und spat.
Ich prüfe neu, was einst entschieden,
Bin Hoffnung oft für die hienieden.
Man ruft mich an, mit Schrift und Wort,
Vor einem höheren Gerichts-Ort.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am a path, no easy way,
After a judgment, come what may.
I check anew what once was ruled,
Often hope for those who've been schooled
By lower courts. I'm called upon,
With script and word, till justice's dawn
Before a higher legal place.

What am I?
(Answer: Das Berufungsverfahren / The appeal proceedings)

🧩 Word Components & Trivia

Word Composition:

The word "Berufungsverfahren" is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:

• Die Berufung: The *appeal* itself, derived from "berufen" (to refer to something, to summon/call upon - here in the sense of calling upon a higher instance).
• Das Verfahren: The *procedure*, the *process*.

Together, it means "the procedure initiated by an appeal".

Trivia:

In Germany, jurisdiction for appeal proceedings (Berufungsverfahren) varies depending on whether the case involves civil, criminal, administrative, social, or fiscal law. The specific rules are defined in the respective codes of procedure (e.g., ZPO for civil, StPO for criminal, VwGO for administrative law).