Supreme Court of East Germany
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Court of the German Democratic Republic was the highest judicial organ of the GDR. It was set up in 1949 and was housed on Scharnhorststraße 6 in Berlin
. The building now houses the district court in Berlin, Germany 2 Instance and the District Court Berlin-Mitte. In the early days, 14 judges made up the court.
Later other tasks were added, mainly due to the process of simplification which is attributable to the pace of DDR-Justiz.
A constitutional court and special administrative, social and financial judicial branches did not exist in the GDR.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The building now houses the district court in Berlin, Germany 2 Instance and the District Court Berlin-Mitte. In the early days, 14 judges made up the court.
Responsibilities
Among the responsibilities of the court included- The conduct of criminal proceedings in the first bodyBodyWith regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
, in which the Supreme Public Prosecutor of the Republic because of the paramount importance of prosecuting cases before the Supreme Court raised - Cassation in civil and criminal matters
- vocationVocationA vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
against decisions of acquittal for annulment actions of Office for invention and patent system in patent invalidity matters.
Later other tasks were added, mainly due to the process of simplification which is attributable to the pace of DDR-Justiz.
A constitutional court and special administrative, social and financial judicial branches did not exist in the GDR.
Notable figures
- President: Kurt Schumann (1949–60, NDPD), Heinrich Toeplitz (1960–86, CDUChristian Democratic Union (East Germany)The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989....
), Guenter Sarge (1986–1989, SEDSocialist Unity Party of GermanyThe Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
) - Vice President: Hilde BenjaminHilde BenjaminHilde Benjamin was an East German judge and Minister of Justice. She is best known for presiding over a series of political show trials in the 1950s....
(1949–1953, SEDSocialist Unity Party of GermanyThe Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
); Vice President and Chairman of the College of Criminal Law: Walter Ziegler, (new 1st Vice President) Guenter Sarge (1977–1986) - Chairman of the College in civil, family and employment law: Werner Strasberg Mountain
- General Prosecutors: Ernst Mehlsheimer (1949–1960, SED), Josef Streit (1962–1986), Guenter Wendland (1986–1989), Harri Harland (1989 / 1990), Hans-Juergen Joseph (1-6/1990);