Appointment of OVG President by Federal Judge Günther announced - Judge Günther Takes the Lead at the OVG, Assumes Presidency
New President of the Higher Administrative Court for North Rhine-Westphalia Appointed
Carsten Günther has been appointed as the new President of the Higher Administrative Court for North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster, following a four-year long battle for the position. Günther, a 55-year-old judge, takes over from Ricarda Brandts who retired in May 2021.
Günther's career in law has been marked by varied experiences. He began his judicial journey in 2000 at the Administrative Court in Cologne. From there, he was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Justice, the NRW State Chancellery, and the NRW Ministry of Justice from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, he moved to the Administrative Court in Düsseldorf, where he served as a judge before being appointed to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig in 2015.
The appointment process was not without its challenges. Procedural errors were discovered, leading to a restart of the process. A late entrant, a department head from the NRW Ministry of the Interior, initially won the race for the position in June 2023, but later withdrew due to a move to a federal ministry in Berlin. Günther, who was previously a judge at the OVG in Münster from 2009 to 2013, was eventually selected.
The dispute over the position was dealt with by several administrative courts, including the OVG in Münster itself and the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. However, according to current search results, there is no verifiable information or details about any investigation or irregularities in Carsten Günther’s appointment to the position.
Günther's appointment was officially announced in July, and he is now set to lead the OVG in Münster. The State Parliament's Parliamentary Inquiry Committee is currently investigating the appointment affair. Benjamin Limbach, the Minister of Justice, presented Günther with the appointment certificate for the top position in Düsseldorf, signifying the start of a new chapter in Günther's illustrious career.
As the new President of the Higher Administrative Court for North Rhine-Westphalia, Günther is poised to make a significant impact on the judicial system of the region. His extensive experience and varied background promise a fresh perspective and innovative approaches to the challenges that lie ahead.
The appointment of Carsten Günther as the new President of the Higher Administrative Court for North Rhine-Westphalia, despite previous procedural errors and competition from other candidates, indicates a potential shift in policy-and-legislation related to the judiciary within North Rhine-Westphalia and other regions, considering his extensive background in the manufacturing and mining industry, steel industry, and other sectors.
Günther's leadership in the steel industry during his tenure at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig and his experience in various administrative courts may have influenced the politics surrounding his appointment, becoming a general news topic in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.
