Rising count of unsolved legal matters in the public prosecutor's departments

In a concerning development, the German Judges' Association has reported an increase in case dismissals, raising concerns about the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The total number of pending cases in Germany reached nearly 964,000 by mid-year 2025, surpassing the previous record high of 950,852 cases.

The surge in pending cases is evident across several German states. For instance, North Rhine-Westphalia, the state with the most pending cases, saw a 40% increase since the end of 2021, with nearly 267,000 cases as of June 30, 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 13,000 cases compared to the end of 2024.

Brandenburg, on the other hand, has managed to reduce the number of pending cases by more than a third, with 24,039 cases as of June 30, 2025. However, the situation in Saxony is less optimistic, with a 54% increase in pending cases since 2021, leaving 45,952 cases unresolved as of June 30, 2025.

The city-state of Hamburg, meanwhile, has seen a significant increase, with 64,404 pending cases as of June 30, 2025. The status of these cases is not publicly specified in available sources, adding to the growing concern.

The data, based on a survey conducted by the "German Judges' Newspaper," reveals that many criminal proceedings are dragging on. More than 2.7 million new cases were added to the existing backlog at public prosecutors' offices in the first half of 2025.

Sven Rebehn, federal managing director of the Judges' Association, emphasised the need for action, stating that many criminal proceedings are dragging on. The Association is calling for the states to commit to new positions in the justice system to release the promised additional funds of 450 million euros.

The Association further emphasised that the criminal justice system must not become a bottleneck in the fight against crime. They reiterated the importance of addressing the growing backlog of cases to ensure justice is served promptly and effectively.