NRW court president reportedly set to lead federal court in Leipzig

Carsten Günther, the president of the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (OVG NRW), is reportedly being considered for a significant promotion to lead the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. This potential move comes after Günther has served in his current role for approximately one year, having been officially inaugurated in late February.

The presidency of the OVG NRW had been vacant for over four years prior to Günther's appointment in August of the previous year. His tenure was preceded by a protracted dispute involving multiple courts, including the Federal Constitutional Court, and a parliamentary investigative committee in the NRW state parliament.

Günther, 56, has a long career in the judiciary, beginning as a judge at the Administrative Court in Cologne in 2000. He later served as a presiding judge at the Administrative Court in Düsseldorf and was a judge at the OVG Münster from 2009 to 2013. In 2015, he was appointed to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, a position he may now return to lead.

The process for selecting the new president involves the judicial election committee, with final confirmation by the federal cabinet. The election date is set for October 15, after which the appointed individual must be formally named by the federal government. Only then can Günther's current position at the OVG NRW be re-advertised.