The Faculty of Law at Leibniz University Hannover is pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Tobias Kulhanek, former Regional Court Judge has taken up the Chair for Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Criminology and Law of Sanctions at the start of the winter semester 2025/26.
For all those who have not yet had the chance to meet him or experience his lecture, we have interviewed Mr. Kulhanek:
Where did you study, and what made you decide to study law?
I started my law studies in Erlangen mainly because in my advanced course in Business and Law, a truly inspiring teacher introduced me to the foundations of our legal system and practical legal case work. That’s when I thought: I’m quite good at this—maybe I should do it professionally.
You served as judge at the Regional Court of Nuremberg-Fürth from 2020 until recently.. Was there a moment during your studies or legal clerkship when you knew: “I want to become a judge”? Any advice for our students thinking about a career in the judiciary?
Well, I can’t really describe a kind of “eureka moment.” I believe the joy came from acting in the courtroom and interacting with the various parties. In this respect, the placement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office during my clerkship was certainly a defining influence.
Giving advice is always difficult, as everyone’s approach and development are different. For a judicial career, grades—especially those in the second state examination—are crucial. Beyond that, I generally feel that as lawyers, we sometimes act too cerebrally. The foundation phase, the specialization area, and the clerkship placements offer so many opportunities to gain knowledge and insights. Those who are empathetic, take on challenges openly, and combine this with commitment, discipline and diligence can find a fulfilling career in the judiciary.
Among your duties was also press work: you were deputy head of the justice press office at the Higher Regional Court of Nuremberg. What did your work there specifically involve? What are the challenges of communicating legal topics to the public or media?
An active media presence of prosecutors and courts is a great opportunity to gain trust through transparency and one’s own explanations. However, it must always be objective and neutral and uphold the basic rights of all involved. A carefully chosen communication strategy helps to prevent misunderstandings and counter persistent prejudices. My concrete tasks included, for example, drafting press releases and responding to press inquiries as well as giving radio and TV interviews.
Prior to your role as a judge, you spent five years at the Public Prosecutor’s Office Nuremberg-Fürth (responsibilities included general criminal law, capital offenses, juvenile crime, domestic violence, illegal gambling, repeat violent offenders and sports, violence against police officers). How does the work of a prosecutor differ from that of a judge?
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, as the authority in charge of the investigation, is in the early phase responsible for working with the police to confirm or refute suspicion and to assemble a structured file. The court then assumes procedural authority during the intermediate and main proceedings, conducting a fair and, at the same time, expedient (keyword: requirement for expeditious proceedings) public hearing and must finally reach a decision about guilt or innocence that—as the Federal Court of Justice puts it—must “leave no reasonable doubt.”
Alongside your professional career, you earned your doctorate and subsequently your habilitation. What originally motivated you to pursue academic work—and what led you from the judiciary to teaching?
I have always been passionate about working in detail, questioning answers, and conveying knowledge in such a way that listeners (whether willingly or unwillingly) feel they benefit from it. From the beginning, alongside my practical work, I wanted to share my insights. In recent years, I have worked as a prosecutor, criminal judge, mediator, and press officer; always with interesting responsibilities. At the same time, it is a central, perhaps even greater concern for me to contribute to scientific discourse and to instill in students a joy of legal argumentation and discussion.
Quick questions, quick answers:
Car, bike or public transport?
Depending on time, need, and availability.
Novel or Netflix series?
Both.
Cooking or being cooked for?
If there is enough time, I enjoy cooking.
Beer or wine?
If anything, beer.
Habersack or Beck editions?
During my studies, first the latter; nowadays, only online.
We sincerely thank Mr. Kulhanek for the interview!
