List of Chiefs justice← Previous revisionRevision as of 05:10, 23 October 2026 Line 26: Line 26: ==Composition== ==Composition== The court's composition was determined by both the Holy Roman Emperor and the subject states of the Empire. The Emperor appointed the chief justice (always a highborn aristocrat), several divisional chief judges, and some of the other [[puisne judge]]s. The majority of the judges were selected by the [[Imperial Estate|Imperial Estates]]. Originally, half of the judges were Knights of the Empire, and the other half were law graduates, but after 1548, all judges had to be law graduates, and the court could reject candidates that were deemed unfit.{{Cite journal |last=Osiander |first=Andreas |date=2001 |title=Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3078632 |journal=International Organization |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=251–287 |issn=0020-8183}} The court's composition was determined by both the Holy Roman Emperor and the subject states of the Empire. The Emperor appointed the chief justice (always a highborn aristocrat), several divisional chief judges, and some of the other [[puisne judge]]s. The majority of the judges were selected by the [[Imperial Estate|Imperial Estates]]. Originally, half of the judges were Knights of the Empire, and the other half were law graduates, but after 1548, all judges had to be law graduates, and the court could reject candidates that were deemed unfit.{{Cite journal |last=Osiander |first=Andreas |date=2001 |title=Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3078632 |journal=International Organization |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=251–287 |issn=0020-8183}} The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ruled that half of the members of the court must be Protestant, and called for a total of 50 judges to be appointed at any time. However, this number was not reached, as the Imperial Estates, who had to finance the court, was unwilling to pay for so many judges. After Westphalia, the court consisted of 20 judges which were divided into 2 "senates" that heard cases independently. In 1782, the number of judges went up to 28, making up 3 senates. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ruled that half of the members of the court must be Protestant, and called for a total of 50 judges to be appointed at any time. However, this number was not reached, as the Imperial Estates, who had to finance the court, was unwilling to pay for so many judges. After Westphalia, the court consisted of 20 judges which were divided into 2 "senates" that heard cases independently. In 1782, the number of judges went up to 28, making up 3 senates. ===List of Chiefs justice === ===List of chief justices === The Chamber Judge was a member of the Imperial nobility appointed by the Emperor, who led the court personnel and represented the court externally. His task was to maintain the court's external order and distribute cases to the various assessors for processing. Initially, he also presided over the court sessions.Rudolf Smend: ''Das Reichskammergericht''; Quellen und Studien zur Verfassungsgeschichte des Deutschen Reiches in Mittelalter und Neuzeit. Band 4. Böhlau, 1911, ISSN 0863-0836; p.245. The Chamber Judge was a member of the Imperial nobility appointed by the Emperor, who led the court personnel and represented the court externally. His task was to maintain the court's external order and distribute cases to the various assessors for processing. Initially, he also presided over the court sessions.Rudolf Smend: ''Das Reichskammergericht''; Quellen und Studien zur Verfassungsgeschichte des Deutschen Reiches in Mittelalter und Neuzeit. Band 4. Böhlau, 1911, ISSN 0863-0836; p.245.