August 7th, Raphi Day
In memory of the Father of Thai Law
His Royal Highness Prince Ratchaburidirekrit
August 7 is the anniversary of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Rajburi Direkrit, who is honored as the “Father of Thai Law”.
Who died in Paris on August 7, 1920 at the age of 47.
His Royal Highness Prince Ratchaburi Direkrit was the Minister of Justice during the reign of King Chulalongkorn. He carried out reforms to the Thai courts by improving their independence in considering and giving judgment on cases. His actions in reforming the legal system and the courts led to him being honored as the “Father of Thai Law” and the founder of the Raphiphat royal family.
Prince Ratchaburi Direkrit reformed the Thai court system. He organized the country’s courts to be modern by improving the courts in Bangkok and other provinces and amending the civil and criminal law to make the courts modern and on par with other civilized countries.
Importantly, he issued an announcement for the special commissioner to establish provincial courts and for judges in the Criminal Court to have the authority to determine punishment for criminal offenses. Previously, when the court had sentenced the defendant to prison, it had to submit a request to His Majesty the King to determine another prison term.
He played an important role in establishing the Law School in the Ministry of Justice in 1897 because he was aware of the need to develop manpower to be used in adjudicating cases. He imparted legal knowledge and judicial ethics training to old and new judges, as well as law students who would become judges in the future himself.
Source/Read more: https://goo.gl/CtbqTx
