Pathways to Karlsruhe: A Sequence Analysis of the Careers of German Federal Constitutional Court Judges

Judges of the German Federal Constitutional Court can be seen as both judicial and political elites. Yet up to now there is no systematic work on the Court's' judges and especially their careers prior to their appointments. Using sequence analysis, this article identifies four relatively distinct clusters of career characteristics: academia, administration (and administrative courts), ordinary jurisdiction and politics. Judges whose career background is limited to the judicial sphere mostly advance from a level below the Länder to the Länder and then on to the federal level, while those with a background in politics or administration switch less often among them. Furthermore, little evidence was found to suggest that differences in the judges' career paths can be explained by reference to the body that elected them (Bundestag or Bundesrat) or the party that nominated them (CDU/CSU or SPD). The article also illustrates the possibilities of sequence analysis for elite studies.     

Überlegungen zur Einführung eines Grundrechts auf Betreten der Natur in die österreichische Rechtsordnung

Das Betreten und der Aufenthalt in der Natur sind in Österreich eine Selbstverständlichkeit. Ein Blick auf die rechtlichen Grundlagen offenbart allerdings eine Diskrepanz zwischen tatsächlicher Übung und Rechtsordnung, die die Juristerei seit einem Jahrhundert beschäftigt. Die folgenden Überlegungen thematisieren erstmals die Möglichkeit, den Erholungs suchenden in Österreich ein verfassungsgesetzlich gewährleistetes Recht einzuräumen. Ausgehend von einem konkreten Formulierungsvorschlag geht es um den möglichen Inhalt eines derartigen Grundrechts und darum, wie ein Ausgleich mit anderen geschützten Rechtspositionen gefunden werden kann.     

Clustering of Multilateral Environmental Agreements: Potentials and Limitations

The concept of clustering of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), i.e. the integration of groups of MEAs or parts thereof, has acquired prominence in recent discussions about reforming international environmental governance. Understood as a continuing process, clustering of MEAs aims at advancing the ongoing process of integrating the elements of this system more systematically and dynamically. This paper proceeds in three steps. First, it demonstrates that a distinction needs to be made between clustering of organisational elements of MEAs and their functions, since the conditions and the effects of their integration differ significantly. Second, it argues that – in contrast to several existing approaches that seek to build clusters starting from similarities in one dimension – any attempt to integrate elements of MEAs needs to be based upon the analysis of a range of factors that influence the prospects of such integration (including overlap of membership and issues, practical feasibility, legal obstacles, and functional requirements). Third, the article contrasts the main potential benefits of a clustering of MEAs, namely efficiency gains and an increase in the coherence of international environmental governance, with the main challenges of international environmental policy, namely reaching agreement, implementing such agreement effectively and preventing/managing inter-institutional conflict. While clustering cannot be expected to make a significant direct contribution to addressing these challenges, it has a potential to economise and enhance the system of international environmental governance with positive indirect effects promoting better international environmental protection in the longer term.     

Improving juvenile dependency courts:Twenty-Three Steps

New federal support for improvement in the handling of child welfare cases has made it possible for juvenile and family court judges to assess how well courts are implementing the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. This article first describes the purposes of the Act, and then suggest 23 steps to consider in attempts to improve the court process.     

The industrial revitalization forum program: Successful industry/university cooperation

The Industrial Extension Service of North Carolina State University's College of Engineering is in the seventh year of a unique program that promotes the use of new technologies and current best practices, demonstrates their application in industry, and offers university services for implementation. Described here are the activities and operation of this North Carolina-only program, as well as examples of cooperative applied research that are fostered by it.