Stuttgart Regional Court Rejects Prosecutor's Bias Motion in Michael Ballweg Case

Background of the Bias Motion

The Stuttgart Prosecutor had argued that by publicly reading a note from a legal discussion during the hearing on March 17, 2025, the court displayed a prejudiced stance regarding the case against Michael Ballweg. Additionally, the prosecutor criticized the dissemination of discussion contents via the court’s press office.

Court Affirms Duty of Information and Freedom of the Press

In its decision, the court emphasized it had merely fulfilled its legal duty to inform. It explicitly stated that the presented opinion was preliminary and by no means final. Referring to Federal Constitutional Court jurisprudence, the chamber highlighted that public trials represent a fundamental principle of the rule of law, a principle upheld through transparency about the content of judicial discussions.

Defense Team's Reaction

Attorney Ralf Ludwig stated, "The rejection of the bias motion again confirms that this court adheres strictly to transparency and the principles of a constitutional state. The prosecutor must accept that an open and critical discussion of the case is not evidence of bias but rather integral to a fair trial. On the contrary, the prosecutor's actions demonstrate clear partiality, acting against their legal obligations solely with a prosecutorial zeal. This behavior from an authority bound by law is, to put it mildly, questionable."

Attorney Gregor Samimi added, "With this decision, the court has made clear it will not succumb to unfounded pressure through baseless motions alleging bias. This decision strengthens confidence in judicial independence and underscores the importance of judicial neutrality."

Continuation of the Trial – Press Explicitly Invited

The trial against Michael Ballweg continues on April 1, 2025, at 9:00 am. National and international media representatives are explicitly invited to attend and fulfill their monitoring role regarding prosecutorial actions. In 2019, the European Court of Justice clarified that German public prosecutors do not meet the standards of an independent judicial authority. The Stuttgart Prosecutor’s Office appears to provide further evidence supporting this conclusion.