Field jurors; appointment, election and dismissal

Four to seven field jurors are to be appointed for each municipality; if necessary, the number can be increased appropriately. In municipalities consisting of several municipal districts, the field jurors may be appointed separately according to individual municipal districts or groups of such districts. The field jurors from different parts of the municipality can form separate colleges. The municipal council, in consultation with the field jurors, determines their number as well as their local structure and responsibilities.

Municipalities may be released from the appointment of field jurors by the legal supervisory authority upon request if there is good cause and the municipality ensures that other suitable personnel are available to assist with markings.

The municipal council appoints the field jurors by election in accordance with Art. 51 Para. 3 of the municipal code (GO). After the resignation of field jurors, the remaining field jurors complete the fixed number by means of a by-election. If the field jurors indicate that they do not wish to exercise their right to vote, or if an election is not held within six months for any other reason, or if there are fewer than three field jurors left, the municipal council shall elect the missing field jurors.

The field jurors are appointed for life. The provisions of the Municipal and District Elections Act on honorary mayors shall apply mutatis mutandis to eligibility and loss of eligibility.

A field juror resigns from office if they are no longer eligible. A field juror may resign from office for good cause (see Art. 19 Para. 1 Sentence 3 GO). A field juror may also be dismissed for good cause by resolution of at least two thirds of the remaining field jurors; Art. 19 Para. 2 and Para. 1 Sentence 3 GO apply to the dismissal. If the number of field jurors eligible for the resolution is less than three, the dismissal shall be pronounced by the municipal council in consultation with the other field jurors. The same applies if the field jurors do not decide to dismiss the field juror within one year despite the existence of an important reason.

The field jurors elect a chairman and a deputy chairman from among their number.

As a rule, field jurors should be appointed for areas not belonging to a municipality. Persons who are resident in the neighboring municipalities should be selected for this purpose. The district administrative authority is responsible for appointing and dismissing field jurors; there is no by-election. In all other respects, the provisions on municipal field jurors apply accordingly; the duties otherwise incumbent on the first mayor or the municipal council are performed by the district administrative authority.

The office of field juror is an honorary municipal office. The legal supervision of the field jurors is the responsibility of the legal supervisory authority of the municipality or, in the case of areas not belonging to a municipality, the district administrative authority. The technical supervision of the field jury is the responsibility of the State Office for Digitization, Broadband and Surveying.