die  Gerichtsentscheidung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈʁɪçtsɛntˌʃaɪ̯dʊŋ/

📜 What exactly is a Gerichtsentscheidung?

The German word Gerichtsentscheidung refers to a formal, legally binding decision made by a court (Gericht) in legal proceedings. It can be a judgment (Urteil), an order (Beschluss), or another type of judicial ruling.

The word is feminine, so the correct article is always die Gerichtsentscheidung.

It's a central term in the German legal system.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: Die Gerichtsentscheidung

The noun „Gerichtsentscheidung“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Gerichtsentscheidung wurde gestern verkündet.
  (The court decision was announced yesterday.)
• Wir warten auf die schriftliche Ausfertigung der Gerichtsentscheidung.
  (We are waiting for the written copy of the court decision.)
• Die Begründung der Gerichtsentscheidung ist sehr ausführlich.
  (The reasoning for the court decision is very detailed.)
• Mit dieser Gerichtsentscheidung ist der Fall abgeschlossen.
  (With this court decision, the case is closed.)

⚖️ When and How to Use Gerichtsentscheidung

The term Gerichtsentscheidung is mainly used in legal and administrative contexts. It is formal and denotes the outcome of a court proceeding.

• Context: Law (Recht), administration (Verwaltung), news about court cases.
• Distinction:
  • Urteil (judgment): Often a final decision on the merits of the case, especially in civil and criminal proceedings.
  • Beschluss (order): Often a decision on procedural matters or in specific types of proceedings (e.g., family matters, non-contentious jurisdiction).
  • Gerichtsentscheidung: The umbrella term covering Urteile, Beschlüsse, and other judicial decisions.
• Typical Collocations: eine Gerichtsentscheidung anfechten (to appeal/contest a court decision), verkünden (to announce), akzeptieren (to accept), befolgen (to comply with); die Rechtskraft (legal validity/finality) einer Gerichtsentscheidung.

In everyday language, people might informally say Urteil even when Beschluss is formally correct. However, Gerichtsentscheidung is more precise and comprehensive.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Aid: The word ends in "-ung" (Entscheidung, decision). Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die). Since Gericht (court) just specifies *who* makes the decision, the article remains die: die Gerichtsentscheidung.

Meaning Aid: Imagine a Gericht (court) making its final Entscheidung (decision) after long deliberation. Together, they form the Gerichtsentscheidung.

↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Caution: These terms are not always perfectly interchangeable as they can have specific legal meanings.

😄 A Little Joke

Judge asks the defendant: "Wollen Sie die Wahrheit sagen, die reine Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit?"
Defendant replies: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich wollte eigentlich über das Wetter plaudern..."

Translation:
Judge asks the defendant: "Do you want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Defendant replies: "No, Your Honor, I actually wanted to chat about the weather..."

(Relates to the court context, not directly to the decision itself.)

✍️ A Poem about the Decision

Im Saale herrscht gespannte Ruh,
der Richter spricht sein Urteil nu'.
Ein langes Ringen fand sein End',
durch die Gerichtsentscheidung, die man kennt.
Ob Recht, ob Tadel, Freud' und Leid,
sie schafft nun Klarheit für die nächste Zeit.

Translation:
In the hall, a tense silence reigns,
The judge now speaks his verdict's strains.
A long struggle found its end,
Through the court decision, as we comprehend.
Whether right or blame, joy and sorrow's tide,
It now brings clarity for the time ahead to guide.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich werde von Richtern gemacht,
beende Streit oft über Nacht.
Bin mal ein Urteil, mal Beschluss,
bring' manchem Freud', manchem Verdruss.
In Paragraphen bin ich kund,
wer bin ich wohl zu dieser Stund'?

Translation:
I am made by judges, it's true,
Often ending disputes, old and new.
Sometimes a judgment, sometimes an order's decree,
Bringing joy to some, to others misery.
In paragraphs, my text is found,
Who am I, known the courts around?

Solution: die Gerichtsentscheidung (the court decision)

🧩 Word Composition and More

The word Gerichtsentscheidung is a compound noun, composed of:

• das Gericht: The court (institution).
• -s-: A linking element (Fugen-s).
• die Entscheidung: The decision or the act of deciding.

So, a Gerichtsentscheidung literally means a "decision of the court".

In Germany, the publication of court decisions (Gerichtsentscheidungen), especially from higher courts, is important for the development of law (Rechtsfortbildung) and the transparency of the judiciary.