This article examines the use of public oral hearings at Germany's Constitutional Court. It develops a formal model analyzing when courts employ these hearings and how they affect rulings against elected officials.
- The Core Question: How do public hearings influence court behavior?
- Strategic Function: The model suggests hearings serve as tools to address potential noncompliance issues.
Key Findings:**
- Courts strategically use public oral hearings according to their predictions of compliance or noncompliance by the parties involved.
Real-World Significance:**
- This research demonstrates how constitutional courts actively shape public perception and potentially enforce constitutional adherence through these high-profile procedures.
Context (Germany):**
- The analysis focuses specifically on practices at Germany's highest constitutional court, providing empirical evidence for the model.
