Judicial officials called for greater engagement with Germany at a book launch in Taipei on Tuesday.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office planned and conducted research for the book, German Prosecutorial Practice (德國檢察實務), by liaising with 10 prosecutors from Taiwan and Germany, and attending proceedings of prosecutorial cases at courts in Germany, the office said in a statement.
“This book is a milestone for Taiwan to strive toward a more refined judiciary procedure” by observing and learning from real-life cases and prosecutorial practice in German courts, Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao (邢泰釗) said at the event.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
When people discuss jurisprudence and related issues, they often bring up Germany’s philosophy of law and its court system, which involve abstract concepts and refined legal terminology, Hsing said.
“The book presents real prosecutions and trial procedures in German courts so readers would better understand how the justice system works there, which can help improve and refine our work and help facilitate a more comprehensive justice system in Taiwan,” he said.
The book is based on personal observations and analysis by Taiwanese prosecutors of Germany’s justice system, which might seem to be familiar, but can be dramatically different from Taiwan’s, Hsing said.
Readers will have a courtroom experience of the case trial process in Germany, he added.
“Publication heralds a new dawn for Taiwan’s justice system, as legal experts would use it to push for more progress and make Taiwan an even better place,” Hsing said.
Jorg Polster, director-general of the German Institute Taipei, told the event that he was impressed by the book, which he said presented the fruitful results of interactions and mutual learning between Taiwanese and German prosecutors.
Reciprocal visits and exchanges between the two sides started in 2023, Polster said.
The book does not mean an end to interactions, but is a milestone, meaning that legal professions in Taiwan and Germany would arrange more exchange programs, he said.
“I believe this is the first in a series and there will be sequels,” he added.
Marian Rubsamen and Julian Schmidt, prosecutors from the Bamberg District Prosecutors’ Office in Bavaria, as well as eight prosecutors from Taiwan contributed to the book, said Hsu Hsi-hsiang (徐錫祥), a deputy minister of justice.
Hsu thanked the research center of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office for providing guidance and assistance to get the book published.
The book presents valuable documentation of comparative jurisprudence studies, and records the success of the exchanges between Taiwanese and German prosecutors, Hsu said.
Fellow Deputy Minister of Justice Huang Shih-chieh (黃世杰) said that the book has value as a reference for prosecutors and legal professionals.
“It shows a path to progress for our justice system as it has domestic applications,” Huang said. “It facilitates better understand of court systems and prosecutorial practice in Germany.”
“It also offers lessons for Taiwan on ways to reduce workloads for prosecutors and boost confidence in the impartiality of the justice system,” Huang said.
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