The Nuremburg War Crimes Trials - The Justice Case: Jurisdiction, Legal Process and its Relevance Today

Book Synopsis: In this book, we will examine one of the Nuremberg War Crimes trials. The Justice Case, as it is called, was the basis of the 1960 movie "Judgment at Nuremberg". In this case, members of the German Judiciary were tried for their involvement in war crimes. We will be focusing on a major legal issue with regard to this trial. Namely, the ability of the Court to exert Jurisdiction. Jurisdiction – and indeed the crimes – were in many ways unprecedented. Yes, war crimes trials did occur after the First World War. But these crimes were committed on the orders of, and on behalf of, the Nazi government of which they were a part.

Accordingly, the Allies realized, well before the end of the war, that heinous crimes had taken place, and accordingly trials would have to occur. They also realized that they would have to set the stage for assuming jurisdiction. Why is the issue of jurisdiction so important, even today? Many of the crimes committed in this Case involved crimes against their own citizens, even though the law of Germany condoned and supported the horrors. We have authoritarian world leaders today who commit crimes that are legal in their country, but not to the world.

The Nuremberg jurisdiction battles, as seen in this case, opened the door to such prosecutions of leaders today in International Courts. This is Brian Risman's sixth law text. Mr. Risman is an Honours LL.B. graduate from the University of London, and obtained his LL.M. from the same institution. Mr. Risman is a member of the Society of Legal Scholars of the United Kingdom and Ireland. He has advised the UK Supreme Court, and has spoken at Legal Conferences in the UK and abroad. He has also authored seminars on Copyright: Software Licensing and Credit Card Fraud.