2024-08-01 12:59:44
Anyone wishing to file a constitutional complaint in Karlsruhe could previously contact the court by post or fax. From August, this will also be possible digitally.
From August, procedural applications, written submissions and attachments can be submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court electronically. This is provided for in a corresponding amendment to the Federal Constitutional Court Act, which the Bundestag passed in April and which comes into force on August 1.
The highest German court stresses that the message must be sent via an approved transmission channel. “These channels ensure that messages are always securely protected and it can be determined at any time who the sender of a message is.” According to the Federal Constitutional Court, secure transmission channels include the special electronic lawyer’s mailbox or the electronic citizen and organization mailbox. Submission by email, short message services or social networks is not possible.
From August, citizens can take the new digital route, but they do not have to. They can continue to submit their documents by post or fax, according to the Federal Constitutional Court. However, lawyers, authorities and legal entities under public law are obliged to submit electronically. The Karlsruhe court also says it can now send procedural documents electronically to those involved and their authorized representatives.
“The time was ripe: the Federal Constitutional Court is a citizens’ court,” said Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP). “That is why it is right that it can now also be appealed to digitally.” The day marks another important step in the digitization of the constitutional state.