Who decides cases in Germany?

• A. Lay + professional judges combo
• B. Only professional judges
• C. A jury of peers
• D. The judge alone

Answer: (A)

In Germany, many cases are decided by a mixed panel that includes both lay judges and professional judges. Lay judges, known as Schöffen, are ordinary citizens who participate in the decision-making process alongside professional judges (Richter), who bring legal expertise. Together they hear and decide criminal cases, balancing public input with legal reasoning. This arrangement means cases aren’t decided by a single judge or by a separate jury of peers in the way some other systems use; instead, the bench itself combines lay and professional components.