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PoliticsUniversity of Hamburg clears legal scholar Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf of plagiarism allegations
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The University of Hamburg has concluded its investigation into plagiarism allegations against legal scholar Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, finding no scientific misconduct. The allegations, raised nearly a year ago by Austrian 'plagiarism hunter' Stefan Weber, claimed text parallels between her 1997 doctoral thesis and her husband's 1998 habilitation thesis. The accusations emerged shortly before Brosius-Gersdorf's planned election as a constitutional judge, which ultimately failed. The Union party cited the plagiarism suspicion as casting doubt on her expertise, leading to her withdrawal. Brosius-Gersdorf had previously commissioned a legal opinion that also cleared her. The university's ombudsman procedure confirmed the accusations were unjustified.
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Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf Source: Britta Pedersen/dpa
Nearly a year after plagiarism allegations were raised against jurist Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, the University of Hamburg has concluded its review. The result: No scientific misconduct was found.
Investigation Outcome
The University of Hamburg (UHH) considers the suspicion of plagiarism against Brosius-Gersdorf regarding her dissertation "not confirmed." The university announced this in a statement on the ombudsman procedure on its website.
The matter was properly investigated following receipt of the information. The conclusion: "The responsible bodies thus considered the accusation of scientific misconduct to be unjustified." Brosius-Gersdorf had already been informed of the outcome.
Background: Failed Constitutional Judge Candidacy
Brosius-Gersdorf had been proposed by the SPD for the office of constitutional judge. Strong reservations subsequently developed within the Union, particularly regarding her positions on abortion law. The judge election ultimately failed at short notice, and Brosius-Gersdorf withdrew her candidacy.
However, the election was not canceled due to her controversial positions, but with reference to the allegations. Parliamentary group leadership and Chancellor Friedrich Merz informed the SPD that the suspicion of plagiarism cast doubt on her professional expertise, according to parliamentary group circles at the time. This had been a central argument for the selection of the candidate, as a prospective constitutional judge must be beyond any doubt.
The Allegations
The plagiarism allegations became public shortly before the planned—and ultimately failed—judge election in the Bundestag. Austrian "plagiarism hunter" Stefan Weber had pointed out "text parallels" between Brosius-Gersdorf's doctoral thesis from 1997 and the habilitation thesis of her husband, jurist Hubertus Gersdorf, from 1998.
Shortly thereafter, Brosius-Gersdorf commissioned a brief expert opinion, which concluded last year that she could not be accused of scientific misconduct. The allegations had "no substance," her lawyers at the law firm Quaas and Partner stated at the time.
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University of Hamburg Clears Legal Scholar Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf of Plagiarism Allegations