If, at the Nuremberg Trials, the vast majority of those put on trial were guilty in the end, then why even have the trials in the first place? Why not automatically execute or perform some other judicial action instead?

by smhseanpgh

madjic

It's more of a philosophical question, isn't it?
Before the trial you can not know if someone is guilty or not. Executing them would be lynching, arbitrary decisions about life and death was more or less what they were on trial for.

junejuly92

Just to clarify, are you asking why a trial was necessary?