Definition
Access to case files
In legal proceedings in Germany, certain categories of persons are entitled to request access to the case files (Akteneinsicht). This right flows from the fundamental right to informational self-determination. The files are kept with the court overseeing the proceedings and can, on request, be viewed, copied or transcribed. The right to access files can be limited by considerations around the protection of the data of others or for strategic reasons relating to the functioning of the investigation.