Biography
1966 Abitur in Karlsruhe. 1966 to 1971 studied law, economics and political science at the Free University of Berlin; 1971 to 1974 legal trainee in Berlin.
1971 to 1976 lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences for Economics in Berlin; since 1975 attorney, since 1985 also notary and since 1987 also specialist attorney for labor law in Berlin.
Membership in ver.di, AWO, Bürgerverein Steinstücken e.V., Förderkreis Altenclub Mexicoplatz e.V., Wannseeheim für Jugendarbeit e.V., DLRG, August-Bebel-Institut e. V., Deutscher Juristentag e.V., Domäne Dahlem e.V., Franz-Neumann-Archiv e.V., Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus e.V., Haus am Lützowplatz e.V., Max-Liebermann-Gesellschaft e.V., Zehlendorfer Städtepartnerschaftsverein e.V., Stadtteilzentrum Steglitz e.V.
1965 Joined the SPD, 1969 Deputy Chairman of the Berlin Young Socialists in the SPD, 1974 Deputy Federal Chairman, 1977 Federal Chairman of the Young Socialists; 1977 expelled from the SPD, 1983 rejoined the SPD; 1990 to 1996 Treasurer, 1996 to 2000 Deputy State Chairman of the Berlin SPD, March 2004 to November 2005 Secretary General of the SPD, since November 2005 Legal Advisor. 1989 to 1992 District Councillor for Health and Environmental Protection in Berlin-Zehlendorf; 1999 to 2002 Member of the Berlin House of Representatives, since 1999 legal policy spokesman and spokesman for the protection of the constitution of the SPD parliamentary group in the Berlin House of Representatives, 2001 Chairman of the Investigation Committee Bankgesellschaft/Parteispenden for the 14th and 15th legislative periods. Full member of the Judges' Election Committee, the Election Committee for Judges of the BVerfG to be appointed by the Bundestag, the Commission of the Council of Elders for Matters concerning Employees of Members of Parliament.
Member of the Bundestag since 2002; in the 15th legislative period, Chairman of the 1st Committee of Inquiry.
