Cost reimbursement for bailiffs due to the implementation of digital court services
In the Düsseldorf state parliament, SPD legal expert Sonja Bongers has raised concerns about the remuneration of court bailiffs and the costs associated with electronic legal communication.
Bongers highlighted that the remuneration for court bailiffs is solely determined by §§ 1, 2 of the regulation on the remuneration of court bailiffs. However, she pointed out that the acquisition of necessary equipment and the ongoing operation of electronic legal communication cause additional costs and effort that are not currently being fully reimbursed.
These costs, Bongers stated, have been a significant burden for court bailiffs, especially since the introduction of electronic legal communication. She emphasized the urgent need for an official evaluation to determine the one-time costs to be reimbursed for the mentioned acquisitions and office restructuring.
Moreover, Bongers called for the incorporation of ongoing costs of electronic legal communication into a new remuneration regulation. She argued that it is necessary to clarify how high these costs are in order to ensure that the remuneration adequately covers them.
Bongers' statements come as the justice system adapts to advancing technology. Court bailiffs, whose tasks include the introduction and operation of electronic legal communication, are at the forefront of this change. However, the remuneration order for court bailiffs, introduced in 2014, did not account for the costs of electronic legal communication as they were not relevant at the time.
If remuneration is insufficient, a hardship application can be made under § 5 GVVergVO. This provision offers a possibility for court bailiffs to apply for additional remuneration if costs are not covered by the current regulation.
Bongers emphasized that court bailiffs perform tasks for the common good, not for personal enjoyment. Therefore, it is crucial that their remuneration adequately reflects the costs they incur in carrying out their duties, particularly in the context of electronic legal communication.
The precise figures related to these costs in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany would need to be obtained from NRW's Ministry of Justice or related official sources for current and future projections. General knowledge suggests that costs related to court bailiffs and electronic legal communication often involve fees regulated by law (e.g. Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz or GNotKG) and investments in IT infrastructure.
In conclusion, SPD legal expert Sonja Bongers has called for a review and update of the remuneration regulation for court bailiffs in light of the costs associated with electronic legal communication. She believes that this is essential to ensure that the justice system can continue to adapt to advancing technology while ensuring that court bailiffs are fairly compensated for their work.
The financial aspects of electronic legal communication have become a concern for SPD legal expert Sonja Bongers, as they are not fully reimbursed, causing significant burdens for court bailiffs. Bongers suggests that ongoing costs of electronic legal communication should be incorporated into a new remuneration regulation for court bailiffs, ensuring their remuneration adequately covers these costs, particularly in business and finance.
