Unusual plan of the NRW judiciary: Because some courts no longer have enough capacity for their numerous proceedings, hearing rooms are to be set up in so-called lightweight halls. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice of the German Press Agency. Specifically, such provisional courtrooms are to be built in Düsseldorf and in a Cologne parking lot.
Lightweight halls are known, among other things, as emergency shelters that were hastily built during the 2015 refugee crisis. Now, for example, they should offer space for large-scale proceedings involving many parties on state-owned land. A budget document for the state parliament states: The lightweight halls could be set up with “the latest technology”, would have their own demonstration area, consultation room and areas for the public – “each with their own sanitary facilities”.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the architecture of the halls should be stable, soundproof and suitable for all seasons. According to the ministry, there is already a specific location in Cologne: the temporary courtroom is to be set up there in the parking lot of the public prosecutor’s office, directly at the district and regional court. They are still looking for a place for Düsseldorf.
The planned rental costs according to the budget: 1.5 million euros per year for Düsseldorf, 1.3 million euros for Cologne – where the following years should be cheaper with 920,000 euros.
