Thomas Schulte-Kellinghaus, a judge at the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe, decided far fewer cases than his colleagues. He completed 48 cases in 2010 and 37 in 2011, against an average of about 71 and 75. The court’s president reprimanded him. “Sie arbeiten weniger als eine Teilzeitkollegin.” You work less than a part-time colleague. He argued that he worked especially thoroughly, and that his pace was part of judicial independence. In May 2020 the disciplinary court at the Federal Court of Justice ruled that the reprimand was lawful. A superior may remind a judge of the proper and timely handling of his work. In November 2021 the Federal Constitutional Court declined to hear his complaint.
Thoroughness did not protect him once others had to wait too long for it.