The Jewish Central Committee of Germany today ordered all courts in displaced camps for Jews in the American zone to cease functioning pending an investigation to determine the status and jurisdiction of the courts.
The investigation was touched off yesterday by a decision of an Army court that the Jewish DP court in the Foehrenwald camp was illegal. The military court sentenced the judge of the DP court to nine months imprisonment for perjury in the case of a displaced Jew convicted by the DP court, who was charged with having denounced fellow Jews to the Nazis.
Although the Army has decided to investigate all camp courts, Jewish leaders point out that they have existed for many months with the knowledge of the Army and UNRRA. The Jewish leaders further asserted that the regular functioning of these courts is necessary to maintain discipline in the camps and, at the same time, to give the displaced Jews a measure of self-government.
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