Department of Criminal Law

Head of project: Lukas Huthmann
As societies evolve, so do the conditions under which law emerges, is applied, and is understood. These developments affect not only substantive criminal law but also the procedural rules that govern the course of criminal proceedings and the decisions made by prosecuting authorities. more

Head of project: Lucas Montenegro
“Among a democratic nation (...) it is impossible ever to agree beforehand on what shall or shall not be allowed by the laws of honour”. Alexis de Tocqueville stated this thesis in his work “De la démocratie en Amérique”* and based it on the leveling of social classes and the volatility of public opinion in a democratic state. more

Head of project: Qin (Sky) Ma
This project examines how emerging technologies, including artificial intel­li­gence (AI), blockchain, and virtual reality, are reshaping judicial decision-making and transforming the role of courts. Using empirical methods and comparative legal analysis, the study investigates the ways in which different jurisdictions integrate these technologies into adjudication, with a focus on institutional reforms, evidentiary processes, and regulatory frameworks. more

Head of project: Qin (Sky) Ma
What happens to criminal liability when human action is increasingly mediated or even replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) and neurotechnologies such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)? Traditional legal frameworks, particularly mens rea (guilty mind) and actus reus (guilty act), have been built on the assumption of human control over both intent and action. more

Head of project: Michael Mertes
German sentencing law operates within the tension between normative control and judicial discretion. Despite its central importance to the criminal justice system, it lacks binding and clearly structured standards capable of ensuring transparent, consistent, and predictable sentencing. more