question about german law and courts

[u/cococauliflower]

hello! im doing research on hallucinations and i cannot find any research papers etc on this.

I am a bit confused on why there is no punishment for flouting this rule and the courts give no reason for this.

If anyone can help thank you very much!

[u/YouWeatherwax]

The courts regularly don't "sanction" lawyers. If lawyers use AI and there's wrong information, it's either the other side's job to correct them or judges will take this into consideration during decision-making.

If the client's case suffers because of it or the other side is hurt by (perceived) wrong-doing they can file a complaint. It is the lawyer's "Rechtsanwaltskammer" where they are registered that will decide if it is actually a case were sanctions are necessary and which measures will be taken.

[u/YouWeatherwax → u/YouWeatherwax]

To make it easier, Wikipedia has an article about BRAO from which I copied and DeepLed a paragraph:

Solicitors are subject to professional supervision by their Bar Association.[6] If a solicitor breaches the provisions of the BRAO or the BORA, the Bar Association may sanction such conduct by issuing a reprimand. In order to fulfil their duties, the Bar Associations maintain files on their members (Section 60(1) of the BRAO), which contain, in particular, documents relating to professional disciplinary proceedings conducted against the member (Section 58(1) of the BRAO: members’ files). The prosecution of serious breaches of professional conduct, however, takes place before the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal. Christian Dahns, NJW-Spezial 2015, 766 Proceedings for a breach of duty become time-barred five years after the act ceases (§ 115 BRAO); by way of derogation from this, in proceedings before the Bar Disciplinary Court, the limitation period is ten years (§ 114(1) or (2) No. 4 BRAO) or 20 years (§ 114(1) or (2) No. 5 BRAO). A breach of duty by a member of the Bar Association which simultaneously constitutes a breach of the duties of another profession, the professional supervision of which that member is subject to, must first be decided in proceedings before the disciplinary tribunal for lawyers if the breach of duty is predominantly connected with the practice of the legal profession (Section 118a(1) of the Federal Lawyers’ Act (BRAO)).

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Rechtsanwälte unterliegen der Berufsaufsicht ihrer Rechtsanwaltskammer.[6] Verstößt ein Rechtsanwalt gegen Vorschriften der BRAO oder gegen Vorschriften der BORA, kann die Rechtsanwaltskammer dieses Verhalten mit einer Rüge sanktionieren. Die Rechtsanwaltskammern führen zur Erfüllung ihrer Aufgaben Akten über ihre Mitglieder (§ 60 Absatz 1 BRAO), welche insbesondere in Bezug auf das Mitglied geführte berufsaufsichtliche Verfahren betreffende Dokumente enthalten (§ 58 Absatz 1 BRAO: Mitgliederakten). Die Ahndung schwerer berufsrechtlicher Verfehlungen findet hingegen vor dem Anwaltsgericht statt.Christian Dahns, NJW-Spezial 2015, 766 Die Verfolgung einer Pflichtverletzung verjährt fünf Jahre nach Beendigung der Tat (§ 115 BRAO), abweichend davon bei anwaltsgerichtlichen Verfahren, nach zehn (§ 114 Abs. 1 oder 2 Nr. 4 BRAO) bzw. 20 Jahren (§ 114 Abs. 1 oder 2 Nr. 5 BRAO). Über eine Pflichtverletzung eines Mitglieds der Rechtsanwaltskammer, die zugleich Pflichten eines anderen Berufs verletzt, dessen Berufsaufsicht dieses Mitglied untersteht, ist zunächst im anwaltsgerichtlichen Verfahren zu entscheiden, wenn die Pflichtverletzung überwiegend mit der Ausübung des Berufs des Rechtsanwalts in Zusammenhang steht (§ 118a Absatz 1 BRAO).

[u/cococauliflower → u/YouWeatherwax]

i see! my question was regarding the case District Court Cologne, 312 F 130/25, where they mentioned that the lawyer conduct could amount to a violation of BRAO s43(not sure if its a problem with translation). Am i correct to say in this case the lawyer did not deliberately spread untruth so there was no action taken against him?... i used https://nrwe.justiz.nrw.de/ag_koeln/j2025/312_F_130_25_Beschluss_20250702.html specifically at 24!

[u/scheborah → u/cococauliflower]

We do not know if actions were taken against him. It would be a separate proceeding from the one you are referencing. Generally, sanctions by the Rechtsanwaltskammer are not public. Proceedings by the bar disciplinary court are generally public but that does not automatically mean that the courts decision would be published.

Edit: the court’s explanation in the case you referenced is rather something like a obiter dictum because family courts cannot decide on sanctioning a lawyer.

[u/YouWeatherwax → u/cococauliflower]

You're correct when it comes to the court stating that the lawyer obviously used AI to create his application. The judge found "proof" of this when he checked the quoted sources.

But it seems that the judge is extremely angry about the extra work he had.

The judge's work here is to decide a case based on the applications of two parties. In his decision the court will give a ruling, summarize the case based on uncontested and contested submissions by the parties, explain their ruling and quote legal sources they based their decision on.

It is NOT within this judge's remit or his powers to rule on breaches of the provisions of the BRAO. That would be the job of the lawyer's bar association. And usually they only will open an investigation when they receive a complaint.

I found you a commentary from a legal professional that isn't paywalled (German only, but DeepL does a decent job):

https://www.lto.de/recht/juristen/b/ag-koeln-familiengericht-312f130-25-schriftsatz-ki-anwalt-berufspflichten

[u/advaith82]

First, other party can also check those facts and dispute them. Second, one doesn't need to separate them based on the reason behind them, so wrong facts/cases cited should be treated the same way whether AI hallucinated or the lawyer did it themselves

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