The Supreme Court of the German Democratic Republic (german: Oberstes Gericht der DDR) was the highest judicial organ of the GDR. It was set up in 1949 and was housed on Scharnhorststraße 6 in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

. 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 body, 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 *

vocation A vocation () is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. People can be given information about a new occupation through student orientation. Though now often used in non-religious ...

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 Heinrich may refer to: People * Heinrich (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Heinrich (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) *Hetty (given name), a given name (including a list of peo ...

(1960–86, CDU), Guenter Sarge (1986–1989,

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) * Vice President:

Hilde Benjamin Hilde Benjamin ( Lange; 5 February 1902 – 18 April 1989) was an East Germany, East German judge and Minister of Justice of the German Democratic Republic. She is most notorious for presiding over the East German show trials of the 1950s, w ...

(1949–1953,

); 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 Melsheimer (1949–1960, SED),

Josef Streit Josef may refer to *Josef (given name) *Josef (surname) Josef is the surname of the following people: * Jens Josef (born 1967), German composer of classical music, a flutist and academic teacher * Michelle Josef (born 1954), Canadian musician and tr ...

(1962–1986), Guenter Wendland (1986–1989),

Harri Harland Harri is a given name, and may refer to: *Guto Harri (born 1966), Welsh former BBC Chief Political Correspondent *Harri Anne Smith, American Republican member of the Alabama Senate * Harri Eloranta (born 1963), Finnish biathlete * Harri Hänninen ...

(1989 / 1990), Hans-Juergen Joseph (1-6/1990); {{Authority control East German law Government of East Germany East Germany, Supreme Court of 1949 establishments in East Germany Defunct courts 1990 disestablishments in East Germany Courts and tribunals established in 1949 Courts and tribunals disestablished in 1990