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Weimar: Judge suspended after controversial lifting of the mask requirement

2023-01-25T11:18:06.338Z


In a much-discussed decision, a family judge lifted the corona rules in schools. The trial against him will soon begin – he is no longer allowed to work for the time being.


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District Court of Weimar (symbol image)

Photo: Martin Schutt / picture alliance / dpa

A decision to make masks compulsory in two schools has consequences for a district judge from Weimar.

He had been suspended, as confirmed by a spokeswoman for the district court in Meiningen.

The MDR had previously reported.

In 2021, judge Christian Dettmar overturned the mask requirement at two schools in Weimar by temporary order.

He referred to the welfare of the child.

The case of the two students allegedly affected by the masks had apparently been deliberately passed on to the judge.

The Thuringian Higher Regional Court later reversed the decision.

Disciplinary proceedings were then initiated against Dettmar at the magistrate's service court.

Result: He is no longer allowed to pursue his activity for the time being.

When asked by SPIEGEL, a spokeswoman did not provide any information on the reasons.

She merely stated that an appeal against the decision could be lodged with the Thuringian Higher Regional Court.

This has not yet been received.

Criminal proceedings are running parallel to the proceedings at the judges' service court: In June 2022, Dettmar was charged with suspected perversion of the law.

The public prosecutor accuses him of having arbitrarily issued a decision against the management and teachers of two schools as well as the superiors of the school managements.

Dettmar seriously strayed from the law in order to publicize the alleged ineffectiveness and harmfulness of government measures to combat the corona pandemic.

The defense attorney expects an acquittal

The district court of Erfurt has already approved the charges.

A spokesman said the date for the trial would be set shortly.

Dettmar's defense attorney, the Hamburg lawyer Gerd Strate, told the specialist portal "LTO" that he was sure that his client would be acquitted.

If convicted of perverting the law, the judge faces a prison sentence of between one and five years.

His decisions, which he justified with an alleged child endangerment, were discussed nationwide at the time (read more about it here).

jpz/dpa

Source: spiegel

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