From the facts to a legal decision.
Parties in court may give different accounts or legal arguments. The court must examine what matters for the decision under the rules of the relevant procedure. It does not simply adopt one side’s wishes.
A judgment is a familiar form of judicial decision. The test uses it to describe the profession’s main function. Judicial work also includes preparing and conducting proceedings; it is not limited to reading out a sentence at the end.
The other three answers
The wrong options confuse deciding with representation, legislation or support.
represents citizens before a court.
Representing people personally in court is typically a lawyer’s function. The judge must instead decide the case independently.
changes laws.
Amending statutes is the legislature’s function. Courts interpret and apply existing law; that does not make them a parliament passing legislation.
supervises juveniles in court.
Youth court assistance contributes social and educational perspectives to youth proceedings. A youth judge still performs a judicial role; supervising young people is not the general main function of all judges.
Judicial work is independent but bound by law.
Independence does not permit arbitrary decisions based on personal taste. Article 97 links it to being subject to the law. A publicly controversial decision also requires legal justification.
Not every judicial decision is called a judgment, and not every case is criminal. The common function is enough for this question: the court decides legal matters rather than personally representing a party.
Article 92 · Basic Law ↗Judge → court → judgment.
These three words form a simple connection. Add “independently and according to law” so the memory aid does not suggest arbitrary power.
Three words for this question
- das Urteiljudgment / verdict
- A court decision concerning a case.
- der Sachverhaltfacts of the case
- The circumstances to be assessed legally.
- die Jugendgerichtshilfeyouth court assistance
- Social and educational assistance in youth criminal proceedings.