“Section 14. The Special Court has to pass sentence even if the trial results in showing the act of which the defendant is accused, as not being under the jurisdiction of the Special Court. This does not apply if the act constitutes a crime or offense under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or the courts of appeal; in this case the Special Court has to proceed according to section 270, paragraph 1–2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“Section 16. (1) There is no legal appeal against decisions of the Special Courts.
“(2) Applications for a reopening of the trial are to be decided upon by the criminal chamber of the district court. The reopening of the trial in favor of the defendant will also take place if there are circumstances which point to the necessity of reexamining the case in the ordinary procedure. The stipulation of section 363 of the Code of Criminal Procedure remains unaffected. If the application for the reopening of the trial is justified, the trial will be ordered to take place before the competent ordinary court.”[623]
Special Courts were also vested with jurisdiction under the law for the protection against violent political acts of 4 April 1933 under which the death penalty was authorized.[624]
On 1 September 1939 the Special Courts were given jurisdiction under the law concerning listeners to foreign radio broadcasts, and the death sentence was authorized in certain cases.[625] On 5 September 1939 jurisdiction of the Special Court was extended to cases of looting, and the death sentence was authorized. Jurisdiction was also extended to cases of criminal acts exploiting the extraordinary conditions caused by the war. That act further provided:
[Article 5] “In all trials by Special Courts the verdict must be pronounced at once without observation of time limitations if the perpetrator is caught redhanded or if guilt is otherwise obvious”.[626]
On 21 February 1940 the Special Courts were expressly given jurisdiction concerning—
[Article 13] “1. Crime and offenses committed under the law of 20 December 1934 concerning treacherous attacks against State and Party, and concerning protection of Party uniforms;
“2. Crimes under section 239a of the Reich Criminal Code and under the law of 22 June 1938 concerning highway robbery by means of highway traps;
“3. Crimes under the decree [1 September 1939] concerning extraordinary measures in regard to radio;