In 1997, the Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig faced a unique predicament. It had to rule on a restitution case for its own building. Yes, you heard that right. The Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig, located in a beautiful villa at Rathenaustraße 40 in Leipzig-Leutzsch, found itself at the center of a legal battle concerning its very existence in that space. The villa, built in 1897-99, originally belonged to fur trader Curt Thorer. It later housed the Erich Weinert School for Librarians and then the administrative academy for the Leipzig district council. After German reunification, the Thorer family sought to reclaim their property, leading to this unusual case where the Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig judged a case about its own address. The court ruled in favor of the original owners. Today, the Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig rents its building from the descendants of Curt Thorer. This administrative court, one of three in Saxony, covers the former administrative district of Leipzig, including the city itself and the surrounding districts of Leipzig and Nordsachsen. Established on July 1, 1992, it replaced the administrative chambers previously operating under the district court system. The Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig began with nine judges across three chambers. By 2008, it had expanded to 19 judges and 20 staff members across six chambers, handling thousands of cases annually. The court has been led by a series of prominent female presidents, including Susanne Schlichting, Bettina Dick, and Birgitta Braun. So, as you stand before this grand villa, remember that the very walls of the Verwaltungsgericht Leipzig whisper a story of legal complexities and historical transitions. A story where the court became both judge and judged.
water tower Markkleeberg
From its perch overlooking Markkleeberg this water tower silently guards the town’s history. The Markkleeberg water tower stands tall a