According to Rebehn, the executive director of the German Judges’ Association, nearly all federal states require three investigators to perform the work of four, leading to prolonged criminal proceedings and premature case dismissals. The association estimates a nationwide shortfall of 2,000 investigators necessary to effectively address the backlog of cases. Rebehn emphasized the urgency for the federal government to reach a consensus with the states on the proposed personnel initiative for the judiciary, calling for decisive political action before the summer recess.