The Vehmic courts, Vehmgericht, holy vehme, or just the Vehm, also spelt Feme, are names given to a tribunal system of Westphalia active during the later Middle Ages, based on a fraternal organisation of lay judges called francs-juges or Freischöffen ("free judges"). The principal seat of the courts was in Dortmund. The proceedings were sometimes secret, leading to the alternative titles of secret courts, silent courts, or forbidden courts. The courts took jurisdiction over all crimes during the Late Middle Ages, and those condemned by the tribunal were done away with by secret means. After the execution of the death sentence, the corpse was hung on a tree to advertise the fact and deter others.
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