richterlich

Richterlich is a German adjective meaning relating to a judge or to the act of judging. It derives from the noun Richter (judge) with the -lich suffix. The term describes attributes, actions, or distinctions connected with the exercise of judicial power by individual judges or by the judiciary in a narrower sense. It is distinct from gerichtlich, which more often denotes actions or processes carried out by courts or the judiciary as an institution.

Usage of the term is common in legal writing and formal discourse. It appears in phrases such as richterliche Entscheidung (a decision made by a judge), richterliche Prüfung (judicial review), aus richterlicher Sicht (from a judge’s perspective), and richterliche Unabhängigkeit (the independence of judges). It can also occur in administrative or archival contexts where the focus is on judge-centered aspects of the process.

Nuances: The term emphasizes the role, discretion, or viewpoint of a single judge or of judges collectively, rather than the broader procedural framework of the court. Because of overlap with gerichtlich, careful wording is often required to convey whether the reference is to the judge personally or to the court system as a whole.

See also: Related concepts include Gericht, Judikative, Richterschaft, and Begriffe des Rechtssystems.