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Volume III · Page 556
| I know that the lawyers are waiting for such
a reorganization of their work and that such a regulation of the administration
of justice will be welcomed especially by the conscientious members. Therefore,
I have decided to introduce in these fateful hours, at a time of total war, a
new chapter in our administration of justice by publishing the Lawyers’
Letters which are to supplement the Judges’ Letters, published two years
ago. These Lawyers’ Letters serve a double purpose. They are to inform lawyers of the aims of the administration of justice by means of publication of the verdicts of law courts in various branches of law, which are of importance in conducting the war, and they are to demonstrate the policy of the court in order to save unnecessary work in regard to remonstrances, complaints, or legal remedies of all kinds, for which there is no longer any room today. On the other hand they are to regulate the general relations of lawyers toward each other in their own profession, and also toward the judges and public prosecutors in order to develop close collaboration among all administrators of justice, and thus avoid future friction, complaints, or quarrels on this subject as far as possible in order to mobilize all forces for the actual legal work. The harder the times and the more stringent the restrictions, the closer cooperation should be among all administrators of justice in their common task. Therefore, the Lawyers’ Letters, just as Judges’ Letters are to be a close link between the administrators of ,justice and its personnel; and thus, judges, public prosecutors, and lawyers are to be more closely connected by a general reorganization of their work. These are not orders, but signposts to help master the great tasks which lie ahead of us. I expect that no German lawyer fails to recognize the seriousness of the hour and the magnitude of the task. I expect the complete mobilization of all resources for tasks that war puts before us, including our people's struggle for freedom. I know that we shall win this battle, if we work together and fight like one man. With this in mind, I hope these Lawyers’ Letters are a means of unifying and strengthening the fighting spirit of German lawyers. The letters are not to remain mere words but should take shape in actions! |
| [Signed] DR. THIERACK |
| Berlin, 1 October 1944 |
