Criminal Defense Lawyer in Cologne

The Cologne Public Prosecutor’s Office directs criminal investigations within its jurisdiction and instructs the police unit responsible for the particular case. Once retained, we notify the authorities, obtain the investigation file, and take over communications with the police and prosecution.

When a search is underway or someone has been arrested, the initial coordination will often take place by phone. After reviewing the file, we decide whether to submit a written response, file a motion, or make no statement at that stage. The linked topic pages explain the options following a summons, search, file review, or indictment.

Which court will hear a criminal case depends primarily on the charge, the expected sentence, and any special statutory rules. In Cologne, first-instance proceedings may be heard by the Local Court, the Regional Court, or, in certain national-security cases, the Higher Regional Court.

Cologne Local Court

The Local Court has jurisdiction when no sentence of more than four years’ imprisonment is expected and the case is not assigned by law to the Regional Court or Higher Regional Court. A single criminal judge hears private-prosecution cases and other matters carrying an expected sentence of no more than two years. The lay-judge court handles the more serious Local Court cases and may impose up to four years’ imprisonment. The Local Court also issues penalty orders; an objection must generally be filed within two weeks after service.

Cologne Regional Court

The Cologne Regional Court hears cases at first instance in particular where more than four years’ imprisonment, placement in a psychiatric hospital, or preventive detention is expected, where the significance of the case justifies an indictment before the Regional Court, or where a statutory special assignment applies.

First-instance proceedings are heard by large criminal divisions. The Cologne Regional Court has designated divisions for homicide, national-security, juvenile, and white-collar cases. It also hears appeals from the Local Courts in Bergheim, Bergisch Gladbach, Brühl, Gummersbach, Kerpen, Cologne, Leverkusen, Wermelskirchen, and Wipperfürth, generally reconsidering the case on both the facts and the law.

Cologne Higher Regional Court

The Cologne Higher Regional Court has first-instance jurisdiction over certain particularly serious national-security prosecutions under Section 120 of the German Courts Constitution Act. It also decides appeals on points of law from Regional Court appellate judgments and direct appeals on points of law from Local Court judgments. The Federal Court of Justice hears appeals on points of law from first-instance judgments of the Regional Court and Higher Regional Court.

After an arrest, the first step is to determine the person’s legal status. Continued pretrial detention requires a judicial arrest warrant. At the detention hearing, the court examines whether the evidence supports the required degree of suspicion and whether a statutory ground for detention exists. The court may revoke the warrant, suspend it subject to conditions, or order continued detention.

The place of pretrial detention is not uniform throughout the Cologne Regional Court district. North Rhine-Westphalia’s allocation plan generally assigns several Local Court districts, including Cologne itself, to the Cologne Correctional Facility. Other districts may be assigned to different facilities. The actual place of detention should therefore be checked against the responsible Local Court and the current allocation rules.

Placement after a final conviction is governed by separate rules and depends in part on the length of the sentence, the person’s current custody status, and eligibility for an open facility.

Family members should first confirm the facility in which the arrested person is being held. The person’s full name, date of birth, and, if available, the case number will usually be required. Private visits must be arranged in advance, and a visitation permit may also be needed in pretrial-detention cases. Family members should avoid discussing the allegations or coordinating statements through visits, letters, or phone calls.

Current as of July 2026. Jurisdictional rules, contact details, and visitation procedures may change. Please check the current information published by the relevant judicial authority.