The Criminal Judgment: Structure, Consequences, Appeals and Commencement
The criminal judgment concludes the trial. It determines whether the accused is convicted or acquitted, which legal consequences apply and which avenues of appeal remain.…
Read more →Hit and Run (§ 142 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence
Hit and Run (§ 142 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence Leaving the scene of a traffic accident without fulfilling certain legal obligations is a…
Read more →Drunk Driving (§ 316 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence
Drunk Driving (§ 316 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the most frequently prosecuted…
Read more →Postponing a trial date in criminal proceedings – is it possible?
A summons to the main hearing reaches many defendants at an inconvenient time – due to illness, a work commitment, a holiday, or because their…
Read more →Changing your court-appointed lawyer – when is it possible?
Anyone who has a court-appointed lawyer but is dissatisfied with their work quickly asks: can I change my court-appointed lawyer? Since the reform of the…
Read more →Fraud (§ 263 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence
Fraud (§ 263 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence Fraud (Fraud) under § 263 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch – StGB) is one of…
Read more →Assault (§ 223 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence
Assault (§ 223 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence Assault (Assault) under § 223 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch – StGB) is one of…
Read more →Theft (§§ 242, 243 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence
Theft (§§ 242, 243 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defence Theft (Theft) under § 242 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch – StGB) is one…
Read more →Court-Appointed Defence Counsel (Court-Appointed Lawyer) – Rights, Procedure and What to Expect
Court-Appointed Defence Counsel (Court-Appointed Lawyer) – Rights, Procedure and What to Expect The German criminal justice system guarantees the right to legal representation in serious cases…
Read more →Court-Appointed vs. Privately Retained Defence Lawyer – The Difference
If you face criminal charges in Germany, one of the first and most important decisions is the choice of defence counsel. German law distinguishes between…
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