Can the AfD politician Jens Maier, who is classified as a right-wing extremist, speak justice again in Saxony? This question is the subject of court proceedings in Leipzig. exit open.
Leipzig (dpa/sn) - The Leipzig service court for judges negotiated the professional future of AfD politician Jens Maier in Saxony on Thursday. The lawyer for the former MP initially requested that the proceedings be suspended. According to him, Maier's classification as a right-wing extremist would first have to be checked before his future as a judge can be negotiated. Maier is mentioned in the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He lost his mandate in the 2021 federal election and now wants to return to his old job as a judge in Saxony.
The Ministry of Justice wants to prevent this and has applied for his retirement "to prevent a serious impairment of the administration of justice". In the application, the ministry is largely based on the assessment of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said Maier's defense attorney Jochen Lober in front of the Leipzig service court. However, his client is suing against the classification - the outcome of this procedure must first be awaited. The House of Justice Minister Katja Meier (Greens), on the other hand, argued that it was not the right-wing extremist label that mattered, but what Maier represented as a judge.
The court indicated on Thursday that it did not necessarily have to wait for the decision of the administrative court. From the judges' point of view, the classification of Maier by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and his suitability as a judge are different facts. In the fully occupied courtroom, the lawyers went through Maier's statements and tweets one by one. The Saxon Ministry of Justice had attached this to prove that Maier was a danger to the administration of justice.
Maier was a prominent figure in the now-defunct "wing" of the AfD. At a state party conference, he attracted attention with the statement: "Anyone who is not defamed as a right-wing extremist in these times is doing something wrong."
It is unclear when the service court for judges will make a decision. In principle, an appeal can also be lodged against the judgment.
Parallel to the hearing before the service court, disciplinary proceedings against the ex-MP are taking place before the district court. It could also be about the question of whether Maier will lose his salary. However, this procedure could also take several instances.
