Praetur (Hamburg)
A judicial authority in Hamburg that was primarily responsible for the lower jurisdiction was called a praetur . With the entry into force of the Reich Justice Act on October 1, 1879, the praetures were replaced by local courts .
The two council members who alternated annually as presiding judge of the lower court were designated as praetors in Hamburg. The cycle began from Petri (February 24th) and lasted one year. Since the presiding judges had to conduct investigations themselves, the praetors gradually took on police functions. The praetures were responsible for the enforcement of judicial decisions of all courts within the city. The praetors, who shared police duties with the Wedde , were responsible for public and private security.
As the city grew, more lower courts were set up and with that there were several praetures. So-called land praetures , which were administered by the respective landlords , arose particularly in the hamburg rural areas . The responsibilities of the praetures included disputed amounts of up to 400 marks as well as rental, interest, servant and service wage matters as well as actions for libel. The police personnel who were under the praetur consisted of a "Bruchvoigt", two bailiffs and several "officers". With the separation of justice and administration in Hamburg in 1861, the police duties were transferred to an executive office and judges were entrusted with the administration of the praetures.