- Reichsgericht
The Reichsgericht (Court of the German Empire) was the highest court of the
Deutsches Reich . It was established on October 1, 1879 when theReichsjustizgesetze came into effect, building a widely regarded body of jurisprudence. ["Federal Court of Justice Celebrates 50th Anniversary", German Law Journal, November 2000]During the rise of the
Nazi regime, the Reichsgericht was enlisted to support the Nazi agenda. During and after the Nazi period, it received criticism for the ease, and even willingness, with which it transitioned. It provided the highest level of formal legal justification for Nazi programs. ["Federal Court of Justice Celebrates 50th Anniversary", German Law Journal, November 2000] Immediately after the end ofWorld War II the Reichsgericht was dissolved, and reformed into the german High Court for the Unified Economic Region, theoccupation zones of France, Great Britain and the United States.Located in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, the Reichsgericht building was designed by Ludwig Hoffmann, and construction was completed in 1895. It is designed in the Italian renaissance style and features two large courtyards, a central cupola and a large portico at the entrance. [ [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=reichsgericht-leipzig-germany Reichsgericht, Leipzig ] ]
After the reunification, the former Reichsgericht building in
Leipzig was made the seat of theBundesverwaltungsgericht .References
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