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What reforms did Frederick the Great make to Prussia's judicial system?

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Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked. — Prussia The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe into one kingdom.

Frederick the Great implemented significant reforms to the Prussian judicial system, driven by his belief that even an absolute monarchy required the prompt and impartial administration of justice to protect subjects from arbitrary rule. Key reforms included:1

Professionalization of the Judiciary: Under the guidance of Samuel von Cocceji, Frederick mandated that all judges in higher and appellate courts be appointed only after passing rigorous examinations.2
Abolition of Torture: One of his earliest acts as king was the abolition of judicial torture, reflecting his commitment to Enlightenment principles.3
Criminal Law Reform: The focus of criminal law shifted toward crime prevention rather than mere punishment, leading to the reduction of the death penalty for many offenses.1
Legal Codification: Frederick initiated the process of legal codification that eventually resulted in the Prussian Civil Code (General State Law), which was promulgated in 1794. This comprehensive work aimed to cover every legal situation to minimize the need for judicial interpretation.12

These efforts were part of a broader attempt to ensure the security and welfare of the community through a more structured and predictable legal framework.1