Karin Angerer will be the new President of the Federal Court of Justice

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has a new woman at the helm: The previous president of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Bamberg, Karin Angerer, has taken office as president of Germany's highest criminal and civil court, as the BGH announced. She succeeds Bettina Limperg, who will retire after reaching retirement age.

Angerer began her legal career in 1993 and worked, among other things, as a prosecutor and judge in Munich. The Würzburg native also headed various departments in the Bavarian Ministry of Justice and was Vice President of the Munich II Regional Court before moving to the Bamberg Higher Regional Court as President in 2023.

On Tuesday, the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Eva Stricher, welcomed the new president at a meeting of all members of the court, as the BGH announced.

Expertise and sensitivity

The Federal Judge Election Committee elected Angerer and 12 other lawyers as federal judges in June. The committee is made up of the 16 justice ministers of the states and 16 members elected by the Bundestag. Three weeks later, the federal cabinet decided that Angerer should become the new BGH President.

Bavaria's Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich (CSU) praised Angerer as a "powerful and highly qualified leader who is characterized by outstanding legal expertise, a wealth of experience and great sensitivity" in July when the Federal Cabinet's decision was announced. The 62-year-old has “proven particularly well” in her positions in the Bavarian judiciary.

As the final authority in criminal and civil proceedings, the BGH ensures that the laws in the Federal Republic are interpreted uniformly. It was founded in 1950 and celebrated its 75th anniversary with a ceremony last year. Angerer's predecessor, Bettina Limperg, became the first woman to head the BGH in 2014. With just over twelve years in office, she held the office longer than any previous president, according to the court.