Two more court hearings have been postponed, in the trial against the German lawyer Reiner Fuellmich. The extra ‘free’ time does not benefit Fuellmichs election campaign, as no changes have been made, yet, to the conditions of his imprisonment.
This week, the hearings scheduled for 21 and 23 January were cancelled. This makes a total of ten postponed hearings, since 27 November 2024. This excludes the hearing of 25 November, which was cancelled due to another judge’s illness.
The maximum time allowed for postponing trials is one month and two in case of illness. If a court exceeds this limit, the trial has to be aborted and must start all over again, in front of a new chamber of judges.
Landgericht Göttingen – the court where Fuellmich’s trial takes place – has, however, been granted an extra ten days to accommodate for the recovery of one of the judges. The trial will therefore continue on the 4th of February, 2025.
Earlier, five hearings in December 2024 and five in January 2025, were cancelled. Since the trial’s start in January 2024, 39 hearings have taken place. Two or three of those were adjourned soon after their start, due to legal formalities.
Having officially been registered as an independent candidate for Wuppertal, in the German 2025 elections, Fuellmich ought to have the same access to media and the same campaigning opportunities as other candidates. No changes in his visiting schedule or imprisonment conditions have, hwoever, been made, so far.
Fuellmich is being held on remand at JVA Rosdorf, since 13 October 2023. His lawyer, Katja Wörmer, is said to be in communication with the prison, about its obligation to grant the candidate the liberties he is officially entitled to.
In contrast, Fuellmich’s main opponent, former secret services head Thomas Haldenwang, is campaigning and making the news, calling for increased social media surveillance. Democracy and national security, especially in reference to an alleged growing animosity against Jews, is under serious threat, according to the CDU-candidate.
Whatever the outcome of the elections, it appears that Haldenwang will play a major role in either front stage, or deep state politics. His former position, head of secret services (Chef Verfassungsschutz) will be kept open, possibly for Haldenwang to resume his duties, after the elections, were he to be unsuccessful as a political candidate.
Volunteers for Reiner Fuellmich’s campaign, in the meantime, are organising focus groups and funds. Those wishing to volunteer or contribute otherwise can do so by contacting Andrea Henning: andreagisela@proton.me; tel: +49 (0) 151 280 50 846.
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Translations:
This article was translated in Dutch, French and German (by Laufpass). Many thanks to Kerstin Heusinger and Wofgang Jeschke for their initiatives in keeping the case of Reiner Fuellmich on the radar.
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Write to Reiner Fuellmich:
JVA Rosdorf
Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
Am Grossen Sieke 8
37124 Rosdorf Germany
- Letters, cards and postcards are allowed
- No glitter on the envelope
- No stamps or money in the envelope
- Do not send books or any other objects, they will be refused
- Do not write about the criminal proceedings against Reiner Fuellmich, although scanning on his incoming post seems to have eased up.
- Put your name on each page of your letter and number the pages. If they do check the mail, at least Reiner will know the order of your writing and can see if pages are missing.