Colloquio su Metodo, Interpretazione e Richterstaat. Intervista al Prof. Bernd Rüthers (Konstanz, 14 novembre 2015)

This scientific discussion critically examines the main elements of the views of Bernd Rüthers on the “State of judges” (Richterstaat) and on methodological and interpretative assumptions in the science of law. Rüthers’ main thesis is that jurisprudence is an inevitable destiny of societies and contemporary juridical systems, but also that this must not justify passive acceptance of the decisions of the judicial bodies of last resort. While the same positive law assigns the latter decision-making bodies binding effect, the condition for this ‘privilege’ is the constitutional restriction on judges to adopt an interpretative method that examines the legislator’s effective historic intention. It follows that positions advocating the ‘freedom’ of judges in the choice of method ultimately end up being an invitation to violate the constitution.