das  Landgericht

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlandɡəˌʁɪçt/

⚖️ What does 'das Landgericht' mean?

Das Landgericht (often abbreviated as LG) is a type of court within the Ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeit (ordinary jurisdiction) in Germany. In the hierarchy of German courts, it sits between the Amtsgericht (Local Court, AG) and the Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court, OLG).

Its main responsibilities include:

• Zivilverfahren (Civil Proceedings): First instance for disputes where the amount in controversy exceeds €5,000, and for certain specific matters regardless of the value (e.g., state liability claims, certain commercial matters). Second instance as the court of appeal (Berufung) and complaint (Beschwerde) for decisions made by the Amtsgerichte in civil cases.
• Strafverfahren (Criminal Proceedings): First instance for serious crimes (Verbrechen) and more significant misdemeanors (Vergehen) where the expected sentence is more than four years imprisonment, or in cases of special significance. Second instance as the court of appeal (handled by the kleine Strafkammer) for judgments from the single judge or lay judge court (Schöffengericht) at the Amtsgericht.

Germany has numerous Landgerichte, usually one for each larger district (Landgerichtsbezirk).

📚 Grammar of 'das Landgericht' in Detail

The word „Landgericht“ is a neuter noun. The article is „das“. It declines as follows:

Note: In the genitive singular, both forms („Landgerichts“ and „Landgerichtes“) are possible, though „Landgerichts“ is more common. In the dative singular, „Landgericht“ is the standard form; „Landgerichte“ is rarer and somewhat archaic.

Example Sentences

1. Der Fall wurde an das zuständige Landgericht verwiesen.
   (The case was referred to the competent Landgericht.)
2. Die Entscheidung des Landgerichts wurde von beiden Parteien akzeptiert.
   (The decision of the Landgericht was accepted by both parties.)
3. Dem Landgericht liegen alle notwendigen Akten vor.
   (The Landgericht has all the necessary files.)
4. Der Angeklagte legte Berufung gegen das Urteil des Amtsgerichts beim Landgericht ein.
   (The defendant appealed the judgment of the Amtsgericht at the Landgericht.)
5. In Deutschland gibt es viele Landgerichte.
   (There are many Landgerichte in Germany.)

🗣️ Usage in Context

The term das Landgericht is used specifically in a legal context to denote a particular level in the German court system. You might hear references like „Landgericht München I“ (Regional Court Munich I) or „Landgericht Berlin“ (Regional Court Berlin).

Typical Uses:

• In news reports about court cases: „Das Landgericht verurteilte den Angeklagten zu einer Freiheitsstrafe.“ (The Regional Court sentenced the defendant to prison.)
• In legal documents (indictments, judgments, pleadings): „Klage wird eingereicht beim Landgericht Köln.“ (Action is filed with the Regional Court of Cologne.)
• When discussing the legal system: „Für diesen Streitwert ist nicht das Amtsgericht, sondern das Landgericht zuständig.“ (For this amount in dispute, the Landgericht is competent, not the Amtsgericht.)

Distinction from other courts:

• Amtsgericht (AG): Lower court, responsible for smaller civil claims and minor criminal offenses.
• Oberlandesgericht (OLG): Higher court, reviews decisions of the Landgerichte on appeal (Berufung or Revision).
• Bundesgerichtshof (BGH): Germany's highest court for civil and criminal matters, reviews judgments of the Oberlandesgerichte (and exceptionally Landgerichte) for errors of law (Revision).

Confusion is rare as the term is very specific. Informally, it might just be called „Gericht“ (court) if the context is clear.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

How to remember the article „das“ for Landgericht?

Article Aid: The word ends in „-gericht“. Many nouns ending in „-icht“ that denote a thing or place are neuter (das), like das Gericht (the court, the dish), das Licht (the light), das Gesicht (the face). Think: The Gericht (court) for the Land (region) is das Landgericht.

How to remember the meaning?

Meaning Aid: Imagine a map of a region (Land). This region needs a central Gericht (court) for the more important cases – that's the Landgericht. It's 'higher' than the local Amtsgericht but 'lower' than the Oberlandesgericht for the wider area.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms (in Context)

Similar but Different Terms

• Verwaltungsgericht: Administrative Court - handles public law disputes (not civil or criminal).
• Arbeitsgericht: Labour Court - handles disputes arising from employment relationships.
• Sozialgericht: Social Court - handles social security disputes (e.g., pensions, health insurance).
• Finanzgericht: Fiscal Court - handles tax disputes.

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse the Landgericht with these other specialized courts.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: „Warum haben Sie die Parkuhr aufgebrochen?“

Antwortet der Angeklagte: „Herr Richter, sie hat zuerst geschlagen – immer ‚Tick-Tack‘!“

Richter: „Interessante Verteidigung. Mal sehen, was das Landgericht dazu sagt, wenn wir wegen Sachbeschädigung verhandeln...“

Translation:

The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you break open the parking meter?"

The defendant replies: "Your Honor, it hit first – always 'Tick-Tock'!"

Judge: "Interesting defense. Let's see what the Landgericht says about that when we deal with property damage..."

📜 Poem about the Landgericht

Im Land, da braucht es Recht und Fug,
Ein Ort für manchen schweren Zug.
Wo's Amtsgericht nicht mehr erreicht,
Und Streitwert hoch, die Sache reicht,
Da tritt es auf, mit ernster Macht,
Das Landgericht, hält Urteilswacht.
In Zivil- und auch in Strafprozess,
Findet hier manch Urteil, express.
Berufung hört's, fällt dann den Spruch,
Ein wichtiger Pfeiler, ohne Bruch.

Translation attempt:

In the region, law and order are due,
A place for many a serious issue.
Where the Local Court no longer reaches,
And value's high, the matter teaches,
It steps up then, with solemn might,
The Landgericht, watches judgment's light.
In civil suits and criminal stress,
Finds many a verdict, express.
It hears appeals, then speaks the word,
A vital pillar, strong, unblurred.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich steh' im Land, doch bin kein Baum,
Ich richte, doch hab' keinen Raum
Für kleine Schuld und kleinen Streit,
Dafür ist das Amtsgericht bereit.
Doch wird der Fall komplex und groß,
Dann geht bei mir die Klage los.
Ich bin nicht oben, nicht ganz unten,
Hab' meinen Platz im Recht gefunden.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I stand in the region (Land), but am no tree,
I judge, but have no room, you see,
For minor guilt and petty strife,
For that, the Local Court is rife.
But if the case gets complex, vast,
With me, the lawsuit's shadow's cast.
I'm not the top, nor right at base,
I've found in law my proper place.

What am I?

Solution: Das Landgericht (The Regional Court)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition

The word „Landgericht“ is a compound noun, composed of:

• Land: Refers here to a region or district, not necessarily a whole federal state (Bundesland) or country. It geographically defines the area of jurisdiction.
• Gericht: Institution of justice, court.

The composition thus clarifies that it is the central court for a specific region („Land“).

Trivia

• The exact names of the Landgerichte and their districts are defined in the respective state laws (Gerichtsorganisationsgesetze of the federal states).
• At the Landgericht level, cases are typically decided by chambers (Kammern), which consist of several judges (professional and/or lay judges, known as Schöffen in criminal cases).