NRW Justice Ministry Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Political Bias in Top Court Appointment

A parliamentary inquiry examines potential political influence in the selection of a new president for the Oberverwaltungsgericht in Münster.

Former NRW Justice Minister Peter Biesenbach testified that he was unaware why his initial candidate proposal was abandoned after the 2022 election.
Current Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach's preferred candidate, a former colleague, was selected for the position, raising concerns of favoritism.
A legal assessment commissioned by the SPD and FDP parties deemed the selection process legally flawed due to an improperly conducted performance review.
The review was conducted by a state secretary who had limited experience with the candidate, violating procedural guidelines.
The ongoing investigation by the parliamentary committee seeks to determine if the appointment was influenced by political affiliations rather than merit.