Judgment at Nuremberg Page #5

Let us examine his life for a moment.

He was born in .

Received the degree

of Doctor of Law in .

Became a judge in East Prussia in .

Following WWI, he became one

of the leaders of the Weimar Republic...

and was one of the framers

of its democratic constitution.

In subsequent years

he achieved international fame...

not only for his work as a great jurist,

but also as the author of legal text books...

which are still used in universities

all over the world.

He became Minister of Justice

in Germany in .

If Ernst Janning is to be found guilty...

certain implications must arise.

A judge does not make the laws.

He carries out the laws of his country.

The statement:

"My country, right or wrong..."

was expressed by a great American patriot.

It is no less true for a German patriot.

Should Ernst Janning have carried out

the laws of his country?

Or should he have refused to carry them out

and become a traitor?

This is the crux of the issue

at the bottom of this trial.

The defense is as dedicated

to finding responsibility...

as is the prosecution.

For it is not only Ernst Janning

who is on trial here...

it is the German people.

The tribunal will recess

until further notification.

If it's all right with you,

Byers can file these briefs later.

That was quite a damning speech

by Col. Lawson, wasn't it?

I wonder if those men in the dock

can really be responsible...

for the things he listed in the indictment.

I've been here for two years,

and after that long...

you find that responsibility

is not a cut-and-dried thing.

What are you fellows up to

over the weekend?

My wife and I are going to Liège.

There's nothing in Liège. I've been there.

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