PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 54215/08) against the Federal Republic of Germany lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by a German national, Ms Rahima Musaevna Abduvalieva (“the applicant”), on 6 November 2008.

The applicant was represented by Mr I.-J. Tegebauer, a lawyer practising in Trier. The German Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mrs A. Wittling-Vogel, Ministerialdirigentin, of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

On 16 February 2009 the President of the Fifth Section decided to give notice of the application to the Government. It was also decided to give priority to the application and to rule on the admissibility and merits of the application at the same time (Article 29 § 3).

THE FACTS

A. Background to the case

The applicant was born in 1957 and lives in Frankfurt.

The facts of the case, as submitted by the parties, may be summarised as follows.

The applicant is the mother of a child born on 23 January 1996. In 2004, after having obtained an expert opinion, a court transferred custody to her and at the same time determined the father's access rights.

On 17 August 2007, following a three-week stay with her father, the child refused to go back to her mother, and, on account of this, was taken into care.

B. Proceedings before the Frankfurt/Main District Court

On 20 August 2007 the applicant requested the court to return the child to her custody.

On 21 August 2007 the Frankfurt/Main District Court (the “District Court”), by means of an interlocutory decision, made at the request of the Frankfurt/Main Youth Office, transferred the right to determine the child's residence and other essential aspects of custody to the Frankfurt/Main Youth Office.

In a letter of 24 August 2007 the applicant requested the District Court to quash this decision. The court then set the parties a time-limit of four weeks to submit further submissions.

On 11 September 2007 the District Court formally appointed a guardian ad litem (Verfahrenspfleger) for the child. On 20 September 2007 the Youth Office submitted a report. On 27 September 2007 the District Court heard the child.

On 26 October 2007, on account of the competent judge being ill, the District Court cancelled the hearing scheduled for 30 November 2007.

On 1 January 2008 the case was assigned to another judge. On 5 February 2008 that judge scheduled the hearing for 18 March 2008.

On 11 February 2008 the applicant's newly-appointed lawyer requested access to the files. This was refused on the ground that he had not yet submitted a power of attorney. By letters dated 12 and 15 February 2008 the new lawyer requested that the hearing be scheduled for another day.

On 20 February 2008 the new lawyer submitted a power of attorney (possibly for the second time). On 27 February 2008 the District Court refused to reschedule the hearing, inter alia, on the ground that the applicant still appeared to be represented by her former lawyer, who had not yet informed the court that his mandate had been terminated.

On 3 March 2008 the applicant's new lawyer provided the District Court with satisfactory proof of the termination of the previous lawyer's mandate and again requested access to the files. This request was granted on 4 March 2008.

On 7 March 2008 the applicant challenged the judge on the ground of bias. On 13 March 2008 the hearing was cancelled. The applicant's lawyer was not informed about it. On 17 March 2008 the judge ruled against the allegation of bias.

On 20 March 2008 the applicant also challenged the appointment of the child's guardian ad litem. On 14 April 2008 the District Court transmitted the files to the Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal. On 17 April 2008 that court rejected her appeal.

On 25 April 2008 and again on 26 June 2008 the District Court also rejected the applicant's motion for bias. The latter decision was served upon the applicant on 18 July 2008. On 30 July 2008 the Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal quashed the decision and found that the judge was biased as she had known that the applicant would not be represented at the scheduled hearing and, moreover, as she had not informed the applicant's lawyer that she had cancelled the hearing.

In letters of 15 and 29 August 2008 the applicant requested the District Court to schedule a hearing.

On 1 September 2008 the case was assigned to another judge. On 9 September 2008 that judge informed the applicant that she intended to appoint an expert.

By a letter dated 11 September 2008, the applicant lodged a constitutional complaint on the basis of the District Court's inactivity. On 16 October 2008, without giving further reasons, the Federal Constitutional Court refused to admit this complaint.

On 27 October 2008 the District Court decided that an expert opinion should be obtained on a number of questions and an expert was subsequently appointed. On 13 December 2008, on the court's request, the expert informed the District Court that he would submit a report by 1 March 2009. On 24 February 2009 the expert submitted his report.

At a hearing on 15 April 2009 the court heard the parties and the child.

On 20 May 2009 the Frankfurt/Main District Court rejected the applicant's claim. On that day it also decided, firstly, on a claim by the child's father, introduced on 19 November 2007, aimed at seeking custody of the child and, secondly, on proceedings on the right to determine the child's residence initiated by the court of its own motion.

On 18 June 2009 the applicant lodged an appeal with the Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal.
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e1
001-95855_a8_em1
CODE
DIRECT
54215/08
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-95855_a8_e2
001-95855_a8_em2
ORG
NO_MASK
Federal Republic of Germany
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e3
001-95855_a8_em3
DEM
NO_MASK
German
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e4
001-95855_a8_em4
PERSON
DIRECT
Ms Rahima Musaevna Abduvalieva
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e5
001-95855_a8_em5
DATETIME
QUASI
6 November 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e6
001-95855_a8_em6
PERSON
QUASI
Mr I.-J. Tegebauer
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e3
001-95855_a8_em7
DEM
NO_MASK
German
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e7
001-95855_a8_em8
PERSON
QUASI
Mrs A. Wittling-Vogel
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
correct
001-95855_a8_e8
001-95855_a8_em9
ORG
NO_MASK
Ministerialdirigentin
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e9
001-95855_a8_em10
ORG
NO_MASK
Federal Ministry of Justice
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e10
001-95855_a8_em11
DATETIME
QUASI
16 February 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e11
001-95855_a8_em12
DATETIME
QUASI
1957
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-95855_a8_e12
001-95855_a8_em13
LOC
NO_MASK
Frankfurt
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e13
001-95855_a8_em14
DATETIME
QUASI
23 January 1996
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e14
001-95855_a8_em15
DATETIME
QUASI
2004
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e15
001-95855_a8_em16
DATETIME
QUASI
17 August 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e16
001-95855_a8_em17
DATETIME
NO_MASK
three-week
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-95855_a8_e17
001-95855_a8_em18
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e18
001-95855_a8_em19
DATETIME
QUASI
20 August 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e19
001-95855_a8_em20
DATETIME
QUASI
21 August 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-95855_a8_e20
001-95855_a8_em21
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main District Court (the “District Court”)
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e21
001-95855_a8_em22
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main Youth Office
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e21
001-95855_a8_em23
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main Youth Office
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e22
001-95855_a8_em24
DATETIME
QUASI
24 August 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em25
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e24
001-95855_a8_em26
DATETIME
NO_MASK
four weeks
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e25
001-95855_a8_em27
DATETIME
QUASI
11 September 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em28
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e26
001-95855_a8_em29
DATETIME
QUASI
20 September 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e27
001-95855_a8_em30
ORG
NO_MASK
Youth Office
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e28
001-95855_a8_em31
DATETIME
QUASI
27 September 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em32
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e29
001-95855_a8_em33
DATETIME
QUASI
26 October 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em34
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e30
001-95855_a8_em35
DATETIME
QUASI
30 November 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e31
001-95855_a8_em36
DATETIME
QUASI
1 January 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e32
001-95855_a8_em37
DATETIME
QUASI
5 February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e33
001-95855_a8_em38
DATETIME
QUASI
18 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e34
001-95855_a8_em39
DATETIME
QUASI
11 February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
insert
001-95855_a8_e35
001-95855_a8_em40
DATETIME
QUASI
12 and 15 February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e36
001-95855_a8_em41
DATETIME
QUASI
20 February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e37
001-95855_a8_em42
DATETIME
QUASI
27 February 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em43
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e38
001-95855_a8_em44
DATETIME
QUASI
3 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em45
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e39
001-95855_a8_em46
DATETIME
QUASI
4 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e40
001-95855_a8_em47
DATETIME
QUASI
7 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e41
001-95855_a8_em48
DATETIME
QUASI
13 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e42
001-95855_a8_em49
DATETIME
QUASI
17 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e43
001-95855_a8_em50
DATETIME
QUASI
20 March 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e44
001-95855_a8_em51
DATETIME
QUASI
14 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em52
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e45
001-95855_a8_em53
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e46
001-95855_a8_em54
DATETIME
QUASI
17 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e47
001-95855_a8_em55
DATETIME
QUASI
25 April 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e48
001-95855_a8_em56
DATETIME
QUASI
26 June 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em57
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e49
001-95855_a8_em58
DATETIME
QUASI
18 July 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e50
001-95855_a8_em59
DATETIME
QUASI
30 July 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e45
001-95855_a8_em60
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e51
001-95855_a8_em61
DATETIME
QUASI
15 and 29 August 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em62
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e52
001-95855_a8_em63
DATETIME
QUASI
1 September 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e53
001-95855_a8_em64
DATETIME
QUASI
9 September 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e54
001-95855_a8_em65
DATETIME
QUASI
11 September 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e55
001-95855_a8_em66
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court's
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e56
001-95855_a8_em67
DATETIME
QUASI
16 October 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e57
001-95855_a8_em68
ORG
NO_MASK
Federal Constitutional Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e58
001-95855_a8_em69
DATETIME
QUASI
27 October 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em70
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e59
001-95855_a8_em71
DATETIME
QUASI
13 December 2008
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e23
001-95855_a8_em72
ORG
NO_MASK
District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e60
001-95855_a8_em73
DATETIME
QUASI
1 March 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e61
001-95855_a8_em74
DATETIME
QUASI
24 February 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e62
001-95855_a8_em75
DATETIME
QUASI
15 April 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e63
001-95855_a8_em76
DATETIME
QUASI
20 May 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e17
001-95855_a8_em77
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main District Court
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e64
001-95855_a8_em78
DATETIME
QUASI
19 November 2007
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e65
001-95855_a8_em79
DATETIME
QUASI
18 June 2009
NOT_CONFIDENTIAL
check
001-95855_a8_e45
001-95855_a8_em80
ORG
QUASI
Frankfurt/Main Court of Appeal
Rahima Musaevna Abduvalieva
DEU
CHAMBER
Task: Annotate the document to anonymise the following person: Rahima Musaevna Abduvalieva