Naumburg: Court stops gender language in judgments-clarity counts!

Naumburg: Court stops gender language in judgments-clarity counts!

Dessau-Roßlau, Deutschland - The discussion about the use of gender -neutral language in court judgments has taken a new turn in Germany. In a current judgment, the Higher Regional Court of Naumburg, dated June 12, 2025, decided that judgments may not be intended, unless the persons concerned expressly wish this. This reports Image .

Central concern of the court was to preserve the clarity and comprehensibility of judgments. The background to the decision was a case in which a pace sinner was sentenced to a fine of 480 euros and his driver's license was withdrawn for a month. In his judgment, the district judge had used gender -neutral terms such as "data subject", which the OLG considered inappropriate. The spokesman for the agency Klaus Tewes noted that it was disrespectful to reduce procedural parties to gender neutrum and that judgments must be clear and understandable, as the Code of Criminal Procedure demands.

Why does the gender don't fit in any case

The OLG largely followed the argumentation of the Naumburg General Prosecutor, which had submitted a legal complaint and strongly criticized the use of gender -neutral formulations without any special occasion. According to jura.cc , the language should not only be inclusive, but also precise. The court found that neutral names appear impersonal and do not respect the identity of those involved.

In the legal world, this decision is evaluated differently. While some lawyers for more freedom in the linguistic design argue, others believe that the clear and generally understandable language, as the OLG recommends, is of central importance. And not without reason, because simple, clear words in judicial texts can help to avoid misunderstandings.

The decision of the OLG Naumburg not only has meaning for the current case, but also a signal effect for future legal practice in Germany. Outdated formulations in judgments should belong to the past. The German Language Association, represented by Dorota Wilke, is behind this approach and supports the decision to limit the use of gender -neutral terms in judgments.

a call to clarity

Overall, it can be seen that dealing with gender -friendly language in the legal system is a field of tension in which clarity and respect must be weighed with each other. With its decision, the OLG has opened the way for a conscious and sensible use of language in court and gives a clear cancellation in legal communication.

The debate remains exciting, and in the next few months it can be expected that further legal evaluations and possibly also adjustments in court practice will follow. It remains to be seen how the courts and the lawyers will meet this call to clarity and whether a uniform handling of gender -neutral terms is established in case law.