日本人在傀儡政權「滿洲國」花費大量心力從事「司法建設」，用以維持治安並創造一個有利於現代產業發展的環境。由此觀之，要理解日本的殖民史或「滿洲國」政權，研究滿洲國「司法制度」或可認為一重要途徑。本文目的在探討滿洲國的司法建設過程及成果，重心放在司法機關的改組增設、制度的改革、以及人員的養成方面，最後並以「刑事司法」之案例史料，分析滿洲國司法機關之運作實態。本文認為，滿洲國在西方式司法機關之擴充普及、司法體制之改革、司法人員素質之提升等方面頗有進展。然而，積極引進日系司法官使得司法仍具殖民色彩、《法院組織法》關於法官「強制轉職」之規定威脅了司法之獨立、軍法機關籍規避手段侵蝕普通法院之管轄權。值得注意的是，由若干重大刑事案件觀之，滿洲國司法官多能堅守獨立依法追訴審判的原則，落實「形式法治主義」，某種程度上緩和了殖民統治之嚴酷性。

Following its experiences of colonial rule in Taiwan and Korea, the Japanese Empire funneled a great deal of energy into establishing the judicial system in Manchukuo to maintain public security and craft a sound environment for the development of modern commerce and industry. From this, it is evident that a study of the Manchukuo judicial system may be deemed crucial in understanding of Japanese colonialism or the Manchukuo regime. This essay focuses on the reorganization and expansion of Manchukuo's judiciary, the reform of the judiciary system, and the recruitment and training of judicial personnel. The final section of the article provides an analysis of judicial practice in Manchukuo as illustrated by the historical records of several criminal cases. We assert that Manchukuo made remarkable progress in the availability of western judiciary, the reform of the judicial system, and the quality of the staff. However, the active introduction of Japanese personnel retained the "colonialist" flavor of the judiciary. Furthermore, "compulsory transference" within the Law of the Court Organization menaced the independence of jurisdiction, and the court martial corroded the jurisdiction of the ordinary court of law. It is worth mentioning that the rulings of several major criminal cases show that Manchukuo judges and prosecutors held steadfast to their independence, prosecuting according to the principles of the law and implementing "rule by law," which to a certain extent eased the ruthlessness of colonial rule.