The special courts played a major role in carrying out summary executions via judicial murder in Nazi occupied Poland. In December 1941, a special law was introduced by the Germans which allowed for the courts to sentence Poles and Jews to death for virtually anything.[2] Terminology in the courts was full of statements such as "Polish subhumans" and "Polish rabble",[3] with some judges even declaring that Poles were to have lengthier sentences than Germans since they were racially inferior.[3]