die  Rechtsprechung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁɛçtʃpʁɛçʊŋ/

📜 What does "die Rechtsprechung" mean?

Die Rechtsprechung (feminine noun) refers to the body of decisions and judgments made by courts. It represents how written law (*Gesetze*) is interpreted and applied in specific cases. It's often translated as jurisprudence, case law, or sometimes judicature.

Essentially, die Rechtsprechung describes how courts 'speak' the law (*Recht sprechen*), meaning how they decide and rule. It's constantly evolving as new cases are decided.

There's only this one article and this main meaning for the word. ⚠️ Be careful with the spelling: it's Rechtsprechung, not Rechtssprechung (a common mistake).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Rechtsprechung

The word "Rechtsprechung" is a feminine noun. It is typically used only in the singular.

Declension (Singular)

A plural form ("die Rechtsprechungen") is grammatically possible but very uncommon. People usually refer to the jurisprudence of different courts or countries in the singular.

Example Sentences

• Die Rechtsprechung des Bundesgerichtshofs hat große Bedeutung für die unteren Instanzen.
  (The case law of the Federal Court of Justice is highly significant for the lower courts.)
• In diesem Bereich gibt es eine uneinheitliche Rechtsprechung.
  (There is inconsistent jurisprudence in this area.)
• Die Anwältin verwies auf die ständige Rechtsprechung zu ähnlichen Fällen.
  (The lawyer referred to the established case law on similar cases.)
• Die Entwicklung der Rechtsprechung zum Mietrecht ist für Mieter und Vermieter wichtig.
  (The development of jurisprudence on tenancy law is important for tenants and landlords.)

💡 How is Rechtsprechung used?

Die Rechtsprechung is primarily used in legal, political, and academic contexts.

• Legal Context: Lawyers (*Anwälte*), judges (*Richter*), and law students constantly discuss current *Rechtsprechung* to analyze and argue cases. Example: "Laut gefestigter Rechtsprechung ist dieses Verhalten unzulässig." (According to established case law, this behaviour is inadmissible.)
• Academic Context: Legal scholarship (*Rechtswissenschaft*) involves analyzing, systematizing, and critiquing *Rechtsprechung*.
• Political Context: Politicians and the media often refer to *Rechtsprechung*, especially concerning controversial rulings (e.g., from the Federal Constitutional Court, *Bundesverfassungsgericht*).

Distinction from other terms:

• Gesetz vs. Rechtsprechung: A *Gesetz* (law, statute) is the written rule (e.g., the Civil Code *BGB*, Criminal Code *StGB*); *Rechtsprechung* is the interpretation and application of these rules by courts.
• Urteil vs. Rechtsprechung: An *Urteil* is a single court decision or judgment. *Rechtsprechung* is the sum of many *Urteile* on a specific topic or from a particular court.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article 'die': Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (*feminin*). Think of: *die Entscheidung* (the decision), *die Meinung* (the opinion), *die Regelung* (the regulation)... and also *die Rechtsprechung*. The -ung ending is a strong clue for 'die'.

Meaning: Imagine a judge 'speaking' (*Sprechung*) the 'law' (*Recht*) – proclaiming a judgment. The entirety of these 'speech acts' about the law constitutes *die Rechtsprechung* (case law/jurisprudence).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

Richter zum Angeklagten: "Wollen Sie die Wahrheit sagen, die reine Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit?"
Angeklagter: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich wollte eigentlich über die aktuelle Rechtsprechung diskutieren!"

Judge to the defendant: "Do you want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Defendant: "No, Your Honor, I actually wanted to discuss the current case law!"

✒️ Poem about Rechtsprechung

Im Saale tagt das hohe Gericht,
Gesetze deuten, das ist ihre Pflicht.
Ein Urteil fällt, mal mild, mal streng,
die Summe daraus, über Jahr und Läng‘,
nennt man mit Fug und gutem Klang:
die Rechtsprechung, ihr Lebensgang.

In the hall, the high court convenes,
Interpreting laws, that is their means.
A judgment falls, sometimes mild, sometimes strong,
The sum of these, over years along,
Is aptly named with a rightful sound:
Jurisprudence, on solid ground.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin die Summe vieler Sprüche,
von Richtern kundgetan in ihrer Klause.
Ich forme das Gesetz durch stete Brüche
und neue Sicht – ganz ohne Pause.

Ich bin nicht das Gesetz, doch seine Deutung,
mal stetig, mal in großer Streuung.

Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Rechtsprechung)

I am the sum of many sayings,
Proclaimed by judges in their private sittings.
I shape the law through constant swayings
And new perspectives – never quitting.

I am not the law, but its interpretation,
Sometimes steady, sometimes in wide variation.

What am I?
(Solution: die Rechtsprechung / jurisprudence / case law)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition

Die Rechtsprechung is a compound noun:

• Recht: Refers to the system of rules, laws, and norms. (Law, right)
• Sprechung: Derived from "sprechen" (to speak), used here in the sense of judging, deciding, proclaiming. (Speaking, pronouncement)

Together, it literally means the "speaking of law" by the courts.

Related Concepts

• Präjudiz: A prior judgment that serves as a guideline for later, similar cases. The body of *Präjudizien* forms a significant part of *Rechtsprechung*. (Precedent)
• Ständige Rechtsprechung: An established line of court decisions on a specific legal issue. (Established case law / settled jurisprudence)