What changes did Frederick II make to Prussia’s judicial system?

Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, implemented significant reforms to the Prussian judicial system, largely driven by the efforts of Samuel von Cocceji. These changes were rooted in the Enlightenment ideal that even an absolute monarchy should provide prompt and impartial justice to protect subjects from arbitrary rule.123

Key reforms included:

• Professionalization of the Judiciary: Judges in higher and appellate courts were required to pass rigorous examinations before being appointed.1
• Legal Codification: Frederick initiated a process of legal codification that aimed to be comprehensive, eventually culminating in the Allgemeine Preussische Landrecht (Prussian Common Law) of 1794. This effort sought to cover every legal situation to minimize the need for judicial interpretation.13
• Criminal Law Reform: Reflecting the goal of preventing crime rather than merely punishing it, Frederick abolished the use of torture and eliminated the death penalty for many offenses.3

While these reforms aimed to improve the administration of justice, the system still carefully preserved existing social class distinctions, and the government's processes became increasingly rigid and inflexible during the later years of Frederick's reign.13