Criminal Defense Lawyer in Düsseldorf

The Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor’s Office conducts criminal investigations within its jurisdiction and regularly instructs police units to carry out interviews, searches, and the analysis of seized data. Once instructed, we notify the authorities that we represent the client, request access to the investigation file, and handle communications with the agencies involved.

When a search is underway or someone has been arrested, the initial coordination will often take place by phone. After the investigation file has been received, we determine whether the case calls for a defense submission, a procedural motion, or continued silence. The available responses to a police summons, search, file review, or indictment are addressed on the linked topic pages.

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

Düsseldorf 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. Within the Local Court, the case is heard either by a single criminal judge or by the lay-judge court. The single judge hears private-prosecution cases and other matters in which no more than two years’ imprisonment is expected. The lay-judge court hears the more serious cases within the Local Court’s jurisdiction and may impose up to four years’ imprisonment. It is generally composed of one professional judge and two lay judges; in more complex cases, an extended panel may sit with two professional judges and two lay judges. The Local Court also issues penalty orders at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. An objection must generally be filed within two weeks after service. After an indictment has been filed, the court first decides in the intermediate proceedings whether to open the case for trial. The indictment states the prosecution’s position; it is not a judicial finding that the allegations are true.

Düsseldorf Regional Court

The Regional Court hears a case at first instance when a sentence of more than four years’ imprisonment, placement in a psychiatric hospital, or preventive detention is expected, or when the case is expressly assigned to it by law.

First-instance proceedings are heard by a large criminal division. It generally sits with three professional judges and two lay judges. Under the statutory conditions, the trial may proceed with two professional judges and two lay judges. The homicide division (Schwurgericht) hears murder, manslaughter, and the other offenses listed in Section 74(2) of the German Courts Constitution Act. A designated division handles national-security cases under Section 74a. These are distinct from the most serious national-security prosecutions heard at first instance by the Higher Regional Court. The court’s case-allocation plan also provides specialized assignments for drug, cannabis, pharmaceutical, and white-collar cases. General criminal cases, drug cases, and white-collar cases are allocated separately depending on whether the defendant is in custody.

The Regional Court also hears appeals from Local Court judgments. On appeal, the case is generally reconsidered on both the facts and the law.

Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court

The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has first-instance jurisdiction over certain national-security prosecutions, including particularly serious offenses covered by 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. The police may hold a suspect temporarily. Continued pretrial detention requires a judicial arrest warrant. At the detention hearing, the court examines whether the evidence supports the high degree of suspicion required for detention and whether a statutory ground for detention exists. The court may revoke the warrant, suspend it subject to conditions, or order continued detention.

Under North Rhine-Westphalia’s current allocation plan, adult male pretrial detainees from the Düsseldorf Local Court district are generally assigned to the Düsseldorf Correctional Facility. The facility is located in Ratingen.

Different rules apply to women, juveniles, and young adults. Transfers may also occur. The actual place of detention should therefore be confirmed with the court, police, Public Prosecutor’s Office, or correctional facility.

Placement after a final conviction is governed by separate rules. It depends in part on the length of the sentence, the person’s current custody status, and eligibility for an open facility. The location of the original arrest does not determine where the sentence will be served.

Family members contacting the police, court, or correctional facility should have the detained person’s full name and date of birth. A case number will make it easier to identify the matter. Private visits to the Düsseldorf Correctional Facility require an appointment. In pretrial-detention cases, a judicial visitation permit may also be required. The place of detention and any applicable restrictions should be confirmed before an appointment is scheduled. Communications with a pretrial detainee may be monitored. Family members should therefore avoid discussing the allegations or coordinating statements through private visits, letters, or phone calls. Video visits may be available with prior approval. Current technical and scheduling requirements should be confirmed directly with the facility.

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