Oberlandesgericht

An Oberlandesgericht (plural – Oberlandesgerichte; OLG, English: Higher Regional Court,[1][notes 1] or in Berlin Kammergericht: KG) is a higher court in Germany.

Interior of the Cologne OLG

There are 24 OLGs in Germany and they deal with civil and criminal matters. They are positioned above state courts (Landgerichte) and below the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof), in family and child law above the district courts (Amtsgericht) and below the Federal Court of Justice. In the Oberlandesgerichte, the offices of the Generalstaatsanwaltschaft or district attorney general are located. In criminal cases that are under primary jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Justice (i.e., cases concerning the national security), the Oberlandesgerichte act as a branch of the Federal Court of Justice, that is, as "lower federal courts" (Untere Bundesgerichte).

As per § 120 Courts Constitution Act, OLGs have original jurisdiction (Erstinstanz) over crimes against public international law under the Völkerstrafgesetzbuch (genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes). This includes trials under universal jurisdiction (that were committed by non-Germans outside of Germany).

The OLG Düsseldorf is one of the most popular patent trial forums for patentees in Europe.[2]

The Oberlandesgerichte were first set up in the German Empire by the Courts Constitution Act of 27 January 1877. In Prussia, there had been Oberlandesgerichte as the higher provincial courts since 1808, known as Regierung from 1723 to 1808.