Honorary judges; application for compensation

Honorary judges can apply for compensation (e.g. for time lost, for necessary travel expenses).

In the labor courts, the social courts, the administrative courts, the fiscal courts, the commercial divisions of the regional courts (commercial judges) and, in some cases, the criminal courts (lay assessors), honorary judges participate in the administration of justice with full judicial voting rights.

In accordance with Section 15 of the German Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act (JVEG), compensation is paid for the following activities

• Necessary travel expenses (e.g. costs for public transportation, mileage allowance when using a motor vehicle)
• Expenses (e.g. daily allowance, accommodation allowance)
• other expenses
• Loss of time
• Disadvantages in housekeeping and
• loss of earnings

paid. The conditions for claiming and the amount of compensation are based on the relevant provisions of the JVEG.

The compensation for lost time is EUR 7 per hour.

Honorary judges who run their own household for several persons receive, in addition to the compensation for lost time, an additional compensation for disadvantages in running the household of EUR 17 per hour. Honorary judges who receive income in lieu of employment are treated in the same way as employed honorary judges. Compensation for part-time employees shall be granted for a maximum of ten hours per day less the number of hours corresponding to the agreed regular daily working hours. Compensation shall not be granted if the costs of a necessary replacement are reimbursed.

Additional compensation is granted for loss of earnings, based on the regular gross earnings including social security contributions to be borne by the employer, but not exceeding EUR 29 per hour. The compensation shall amount to up to EUR 55 per hour for honorary judges who are called upon for more than 20 days in the same proceedings or who are deprived of their regular gainful employment for at least six days within a period of 30 days. It amounts to up to EUR 73 per hour for honorary judges who are called upon for more than 50 days in the same proceedings.

A special regulation applies to the compensation of commercial judges.

You are working as an honorary judge.

Compensation for disadvantages in housekeeping: Compensation is only granted if the honorary judges are not gainfully employed or if they are employed part-time and are called upon to work outside their agreed regular daily working hours. Compensation is not granted if the costs of a necessary replacement are reimbursed.

You must apply for compensation from the court for which you are acting.

The relevant compensation forms are usually sent by the court.

The reimbursement of costs is handled by the court administration.

The entitlement to compensation expires if it is not asserted within three months of the end of the term of office.

• Employees claiming loss of earnings must submit a certificate of loss of earnings from their employer.