Should plaintiffs before social courts be able to enforce virtual proceedings against the will of the judges? The president of the state social court in the southwest has a firm opinion on this.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – According to the state social court, it should still be decided by the respective judges whether those involved in the process have to appear before the social courts or not. In the legal policy debate on Monday, the President of the State Social Court, Bernd Mutschler, sided with the proponents of discretionary judges on this issue. This eliminates a possible claim by those involved to a virtual hearing, as the ministries of justice are considering.
During the corona pandemic, it was a relief to be able to connect those involved in the process virtually to negotiations and discussion meetings, Mutschler explained in Stuttgart. But it is also important for the judges to be able to get a personal impression of those involved in the process. This applies, for example, when it comes to disability pensions for people with disabilities and the judges want to find out about the extent of their impairments. With this position, Mutschler sees himself in line with his colleagues in social justice in the other federal states.
The eight social courts and the state social court rule on legal disputes in matters such as social security, unemployment insurance and social assistance.
After a corona-related low in the number of cases settled at the State Social Court in 2021, 3264 settlements faced 3052 lawsuits and appeals at the end of last year.
Mutschler sees the social courts primarily facing questions about the citizens’ allowance planned by the coalition in Berlin and its interpretation. He also predicted increases in procedures as a result of corona vaccination damage and possible rehabilitation and pension claims from it. In addition, the judges will increasingly deal with the recognition of corona infections in the workplace as an occupational accident and disability, as Mutschler said. Despite these challenges, he considers the social justice system in Baden-Württemberg to be well positioned with 157 judges.
