Honored lawyer of the German Democratic Republic
The honorary title of Honored Jurist of the German Democratic Republic was a state award of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was awarded in the form of a medal since 1979. The title could be bestowed for outstanding services in consolidating socialist legalism and for many years of work in the administration of justice. The group of persons entitled to award were public prosecutors, lawyers, judges, lawyers and notaries. It was only allowed to be awarded once and was only given to individuals. The honorary title included a medal and a cash bonus. The award was made annually on December 8th by the Attorney General of the GDR, the Minister of Justice and the President of the Supreme Court of the GDR, whereby the maximum number of awards was limited to 40 honorary degrees annually. Awarded were u. a. Hilde Benjamin and Erich Mielke .
Appearance and wearing style
The gold-plated medal with a diameter of 32 mm shows on its obverse the state coat of arms of the GDR in the center, surrounded by the inscription: MERIT JURIST (above) OF THE GDR (below). The inscription itself was enclosed by two open laurel branches that were crossed at the bottom and curved upwards. The reverse of the medal, on the other hand, showed the four-line inscription: * / SOCIALISTISCHE / RECHTSPFLEGE / ZUM WOHLE / DES Volks / * . The medal was worn on the upper left side of the chest on a rectangular, red-covered clasp. The interim clasp was of the same quality and also showed the 10 mm gold miniature of the GDR's national coat of arms.
Individual evidence
- ^ Günter Tautz: Orders and Medals. State awards of the GDR. 2nd edition VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1983, p. 148.