Former German Constitutional Court Judge Baer Visits Ukraine to Discuss Democracy's Defense

Online Lecture by Susanne Baer at Ukraine's Constitutional Court

According to Конституційний суд: On March 12, 2026, Ukraine's Constitutional Court hosted an online lecture by Susanne Baer, a former judge of Germany's Federal Constitutional Court. The event, supported by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ), focused on the theme 'How to Protect Democracy: The German Federal Constitutional Court's Consensus-Building Practice – From Climate Change to Freedom of Speech'. This exchange highlights the ongoing international support for Ukraine's judicial institutions during a period of national resilience.

Speaker and Participants

The keynote speaker was Susanne Baer, who served as a judge on Germany's Federal Constitutional Court from 2011 to 2023. She is also a professor of public law and gender studies at Humboldt University in Berlin and the author of the 2025 book 'Rote Linien' ('Red Lines'). During her lecture, she underscored the critical importance of precise legal language, stating:

'Lawyers fight over every word and comma because a legal position must be clearly formulated.'

The lecture was attended by judges from Ukraine's Constitutional Court:

• Yurii Barabash
• Oleksandr Vodiannikov
• Viktor Horodovenko
• Viktor Kychun
• Oleh Pervomaiskyi
• Halyna Yurovska

Representatives from the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation also participated:

• Angela Schmeink – Project Manager for Ukraine and Vietnam
• Wolfram Hertig – Senior Project Manager
• Hennadii Ryzhkov – Legal Advisor

The event drew a wide audience, including lawyers, prosecutors, judges, representatives from Ukraine's National School of Judges, academics, lecturers, postgraduate students, and researchers from the Junior Academy of Sciences. In her presentation, Susanne Baer focused on the German court's decision-making practices in addressing the climate crisis, the use of surveillance tools, and the protection of refugee rights-all key issues for contemporary jurisprudence and democratic governance.

This lecture marked a significant step in developing cooperation between the Ukrainian and German legal systems. Discussing pressing topics like climate change and human rights protection underscores the need for legal frameworks to adapt to modern challenges. Such initiatives foster the exchange of experience and knowledge, which is vital for strengthening Ukraine's legal system and upholding democratic values.

In a similar vein, recent discussions between the Ukrainian and Czech Constitutional Courts have highlighted the importance of judicial ethics and the influence of EU law on national legal systems. These conversations reflect a broader commitment to strengthening judicial integrity across Europe. For more insights into how these courts are addressing contemporary legal challenges, see the full report on the collaboration between Ukraine and the Czech Republic.