Carsten Günther Officially Assumes Role as President of the Higher Administrative Court in Münster

The ceremonial introduction of Carsten Günther to the position of President of the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Münster marks the finale of one of the longest and most controversial staffing processes in the German judiciary in recent years. The position had remained unfilled since 2021, when Ricarda Brandts retired. For nearly four years, the institution was led by vice-presidents, including Sebastian Beimesche and Jörg Sander, who during this time presided over key cases, such as the classification of the AfD party by the domestic intelligence service. The dispute over filling the president's seat involved courts of many instances, reaching as high as the Federal Constitutional Court, and the background of the nomination became the subject of a committee of inquiry in the regional parliament. During the official ceremony, Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach of the Green Party praised Günther's previous achievements; Günther had already taken de facto control of the court last summer. The minister emphasized that the legal system needs leaders who can maintain a "straight spine" and resolutely stand on the ground of the constitution. Observers described the appointment process itself as "spicy" due to earlier attempts to push through a different female candidate, which the opposition saw as an instance of cronyism. During Wednesday's ceremony, direct references to the past political conflict were diplomatically avoided, with focus placed on the institution's future. Higher Administrative Courts (Oberverwaltungsgerichte) in Germany serve as appellate instances in matters of public law, deciding on the legality of actions by state and local administration. President Carsten Günther, in his address, highlighted the fundamental role of administrative courts in protecting the rule of law. Citing the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, he emphasized the importance of judicial independence. He noted that democracy and the republic require daily engagement from citizens and officials, and constitutional courts alone are not enough if there is a lack of will to defend the liberal order. The day of the ceremony also brought an unexpected traffic incident involving Minister Limbach. His limousine was slightly damaged by a truck on the motorway while traveling from Düsseldorf to Münster. Although no one was injured, the minister arrived at the ceremony delayed. „Wir brauchen in unseren Reihen Leute, die stark auf dem Boden des Grundgesetzes und unserer Landesverfassung stehen.” (We need people in our ranks who stand strong on the ground of the Basic Law and our state constitution.) — Benjamin Limbach