Prof. Christoph Engel (Max Planck Institute Bonn): The German Constitutional Court – Political, but not Partisan?

This podcast episode explores the political power and influence of the German Constitutional Court. The discussion revolves around whether the court is political, the relationship between policy makers and the court, the challenges of studying political orientation and legal outcomes, and the potential for the German system to influence other countries. The speakers acknowledge the court's political nature but argue that individual justices are less likely to act in a partisan manner. They also discuss factors that may influence the court's behavior, such as culture and institutional details, and consider the challenges of implementing the German system in different legal traditions.