Spruchkörper

Spruchkörper (plural Spruchkörper) is a term in German-speaking legal systems referring to a collegial decision-making body within a court or administrative tribunal that renders a judgment or ruling in a case. The word combines Spruch (pronouncement, decision) and Körper (body), emphasizing its function as a group rather than an individual.

In criminal proceedings in Germany and Austria, a Spruchkörper usually consists of multiple members and serves as the decision-making panel for verdicts and sentences. In many courts, it is formed as a panel of three persons, commonly including one professional judge and two lay judges (Schöffen) in Schöffengerichte; higher courts may use different compositions but retain the collegial decision principle. The Spruchkörper deliberates on the evidence, applies relevant law, and issues the final verdict (guilty/not guilty) and, where appropriate, the sentence. All members participate in the discussion and voting; majority decisions bind the outcome.

In civil and administrative cases, the term likewise denotes a panel that issues the court’s ruling, not a single judge. The precise composition and procedures depend on jurisdiction and court level.

Etymology and usage: The term is used mainly in German‑speaking legal literature to emphasize the collective decision-making process. It is less common in casual language and is mostly found in formal descriptions of court procedures. See also Schöffe, Schöffengericht, Beisitzer, Senat.