LAWgical reported yesterday on an article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung saying that the Bayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht may be abolished as part of the money-saving package announced yesterday by Edmund Stoiber.

Stoiber wants to remove one whole tier of police and schools administration too.

The Bayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht is a unique institution. The Einführungsgesetz zum Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz (Introductory Act to the Act on the Constitution of the Courts (or to the Judicature Act)) provides that in Länder with more than one Oberlandesgericht, the hearing of and decision in appeals on a point of law that would normally go to the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) can be dealt with by an oberstes Landesgericht (highest regional court?).

The website has a lot of very nice photos, of president, public prosecutors, and visitors from China and Ukraine.

Translators have long wondered how to translate the BayObLG – Higher Bavarian Court? Highest Bavarian Court of Appeal? They may still wonder, because even if the court is abolished, its name will haunt translations for years to come.