das  Oberlandesgericht

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈoːbɐˌlantəsɡəˌʁɪçt/

🏛️ What Exactly is an Oberlandesgericht?

The Oberlandesgericht (often abbreviated as OLG) is a court of ordinary jurisdiction in Germany. In the hierarchy, it ranks above the *Amtsgerichte* (Local Courts) and *Landgerichte* (Regional Courts) of a federal state or judicial district, and below the *Bundesgerichtshof* (Federal Court of Justice, BGH).

It is primarily responsible for *Berufungen* (appeals on points of fact and law) and *Beschwerden* (appeals on points of law) against decisions of the *Landgerichte*, as well as for certain first-instance proceedings, e.g., in matters of state security. It is an important instance in the German legal system.

The article is always das, because Gericht (court) is a neuter noun: das Gericht -> das Oberlandesgericht.

🧐 Grammar Under the Microscope: Das Oberlandesgericht

The word Oberlandesgericht is a neuter noun. It is declined as follows:

📜 Example Sentences

1. Das Oberlandesgericht hat das Urteil des Landgerichts bestätigt.
   (The Higher Regional Court confirmed the judgment of the Regional Court.)
2. Die Entscheidung des Oberlandesgerichts war für viele überraschend.
   (The decision of the Higher Regional Court was surprising for many.)
3. Der Fall wurde an das zuständige Oberlandesgericht verwiesen.
   (The case was referred to the competent Higher Regional Court.)
4. Viele wichtige Rechtsfragen werden vor den Oberlandesgerichten verhandelt.
   (Many important legal questions are tried before the Higher Regional Courts.)

⚖️ When Do We Talk About the Oberlandesgericht?

The term Oberlandesgericht is primarily used in legal and administrative contexts.

• Appellate Court: You mostly hear about it in connection with *Berufungen* (appeals) or *Beschwerden* (complaints) against judgments of *Landgerichte* (Regional Courts) in civil and criminal matters.
• First Instance Jurisdiction: In rare cases, such as certain state security offenses (*Staatsschutzdelikte*), the OLG is the court of first instance.
• Abbreviation: In everyday legal practice and documents, the abbreviation OLG is frequently used (e.g., OLG München, OLG Hamm).
• Comparison: It's an intermediate court. Below it are the *Amtsgerichte* and *Landgerichte*, above it is the *Bundesgerichtshof* (BGH). In Berlin, the equivalent court is called *Kammergericht* (KG), but it serves the same function.

Its use is specific to the German (and Austrian) legal system.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Remembering the Article das:

Think of das Gericht (the court/dish). Many German nouns ending in -icht referring to things are neuter (das Gesicht - face, das Licht - light, das Gericht - court/dish). This also applies to compound words like das Oberlandesgericht. The court is a neutral place -> das Gericht.

Remembering the Meaning:

Imagine a ladder: At the bottom is the *Land* (Landgericht), above (Ober) it is a higher step: das Oberlandesgericht. It's the upper court for a specific Land (in the sense of region/federal state).

🔁 Similar and Opposing Terms

Synonyms:

• OLG (abbreviation, very common)
• (In Berlin) Kammergericht (KG) (serves the same function)

Related Terms (Hierarchy):

• Subordinate: *Amtsgericht* (AG - Local Court), *Landgericht* (LG - Regional Court)
• Superior: *Bundesgerichtshof* (BGH - Federal Court of Justice)

There isn't a direct antonym in the sense of an opposite. The opposites arise from the judicial hierarchy.

Similar Sounding/Confusing Words:

• Bundesverwaltungsgericht: Federal Administrative Court (responsible for administrative law, not ordinary jurisdiction).
• Landessozialgericht: Higher Social Court (responsible for social law).
• Landesarbeitsgericht: Higher Labour Court (responsible for labour law).

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse the Oberlandesgericht with courts of other jurisdictions!

😄 A Little Joke

Richter: Wollen Sie wirklich behaupten, Sie hätten das Portemonnaie nur aufgehoben, weil eine Adresse drinstand?
Angeklagter: Ja, Herr Richter! Es stand drauf: Oberlandesgericht!

Translation:
Judge: Do you really maintain that you only picked up the wallet because it had an address inside?
Defendant: Yes, Your Honor! It said: Higher Regional Court!

📜 A Poem About the Court

Hoch überm Land, in ernstem Bau,
Das Oberlandesgericht, ganz genau.
Hier wird geprüft, was unten war,
Berufung, Klage, Jahr für Jahr.
Mit Aktenbergen, Paragraphen schwer,
Wird Recht gesprochen, bitte sehr.
Das OLG, ein wichtiger Ort,
Bringt Urteile zum letzten Wort (fast).

Translation:
High above the land, in a serious building,
The Oberlandesgericht, precisely.
Here is checked what was below,
Appeal, complaint, year after year.
With mountains of files, heavy paragraphs,
Justice is spoken, if you please.
The OLG, an important place,
Brings judgments to the final word (almost, as there's still the BGH).

❓ Little Riddle

Ich steh' im Rang nicht ganz oben, nicht ganz allein,
Über Land- und Amtsgericht wach' ich fein.
Berufung und Beschwerde nehm' ich entgegen,
In den Bundesländern bin ich zugegen.
Meine Abkürzung ist kurz, nur drei Lettern klar,
Bin ich in Berlin, heiß ich anders, wunderbar!

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I'm not ranked highest, not all alone,
Above Regional and Local Courts, I watch finely sown.
Appeals and complaints, I receive,
In the federal states, I am present, you believe.
My abbreviation is short, just three letters clear,
If I'm in Berlin, I have a different name, oh dear!

What am I? Solution: das Oberlandesgericht

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word Oberlandesgericht is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of three parts:

• Ober-: Indicates a higher position or rank (cf. Oberarzt - senior physician, Oberkellner - head waiter).
• Landes-: Refers to the *Land* (federal state) or a larger region for which the court is responsible.
• Gericht: The institution that administers justice (court).

Trivia:

• There are currently 24 Oberlandesgerichte in Germany (as of 2023).
• The Kammergericht in Berlin is the oldest German court still operating under its historical name and performing the function of an OLG.
• Decisions of the Oberlandesgerichte often have significant importance for legal development and are frequently cited.