Jakob Hohnerlein

Dr. Jakob Hohnerlein is a Senior Researcher at the University of Freiburg's Institute for Constitutional Theory and Legal Philosophy within the Faculty of Law. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg Law Faculty, awarded the Werner-von-Simson Prize for his thesis on 'Law and democratic reversibility.' His research focuses on constitutional theory, legal philosophy, and democratic governance.

Education includes law studies at Konstanz, Freiburg, and Madrid (2008–2014, First State Examination) and a B.A. in political science and history from Freiburg and Madrid (2009–2015). Professional experience includes roles as a student assistant (2011–2014), research assistant (2014–2019), and legal clerkship at Berlin's Higher Regional Court (2018–2020), with stages at the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte, and the European Court of Human Rights. He also assisted a Berlin lawyer in 2021.

Research interests revolve around the intersection of constitutional law, democratic legitimacy, and institutional constraints on majorities. His work emphasizes theoretical frameworks for understanding legal entrenchment and democratic accountability.

Professional recognitions include the Werner-von-Simson Prize (2019), reflecting scholarly excellence in constitutional studies. His career bridges academic research, judicial practice, and policy analysis, contributing to debates on governance structures and legal frameworks in democratic societies.