The regional courts have ordinary jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters. Details of the courts' jurisdiction are set out in sections 59 and following of the German Court System Organisation Act (Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz).

  1. Civil matters
    In civil matters, the regional courts, as a rule, hear and decide all cases with a value in dispute exceeding € 5,000 whereas the local courts have jurisdiction in all matters up to that amount. There are, however, numerous exemptions, the two most significant of which should be mentioned in this context: Disputes arising from a residential tenant and landlord relationship always fall within the jurisdiction of the local courts irrespective of the value in dispute, and as far as claims based on any government liability are concerned, it is the regional courts that have jurisdiction irrespective of the value in dispute. In addition to jurisdiction of first instance in civil matters, the regional courts have appellate jurisdiction with respect to appeals from local court decisions in civil matters.
    Civil cases in which the regional courts have jurisdiction are heard and decided by either the civil divisions (Zivilkammern) or the commercial divisions (Kammern für Handelssachen). The Landgericht Bonn currently has 14 civil divisions and 14 commercial divisions.
    Which of the divisions of the Landgericht Bonn will hear and decide a case depends on the schedule of duties which is decided on by the Presiding Committee of the Court at the beginning of each year. For more detailed information, please click on the link 'About us' and then on 'Schedule of Duties'.
    Landmark judgments and decisions by the divisions of the Landgericht Bonn are regularly published in the North Rhine-Westphalia reports of cases data base (www.nrwe.de externer Link, öffnet neues Browserfenster - German version only).

  2. Criminal matters
    In criminal matters, the regional courts have jurisdiction of first instance in particular with regard to criminal offences that are expected to be punished with a term of imprisonment exceeding four years and with regard to cases of special importance.
    The law provides that with regard to a number of specific criminal offences, e.g. murder, the trial is conducted by a criminal division called Schwurgericht. Some cases, likewise laid down by the law, are heard and decided by the commercial crime division (Wirtschaftsstrafkammer). Moreover, the regional courts have appellate jurisdiction in criminal matters with regard to appeals from judgments given or sentences passed by the local courts. The jurisdiction of regional courts also include the tasks of a division for sentence execution (Strafvollstreckungskammer). The Landgericht Bonn currently has 8 criminal divisions and 1 division for sentence execution.
    Which of the divisions of the Landgericht Bonn will hear and decide a case is laid down in the schedule of duties which is decided on by the Presiding Committee of the Court at the beginning of each year. For more detailed information, please click on the link 'About us' and then on 'Schedule of Duties'.
    Landmark judgments and decisions by the divisions of the Landgericht Bonn are regularly published in the North Rhine-Westphalia reports of cases data base (www.nrwe.de externer Link, öffnet neues Browserfenster - German version only).