Rumiantsev A. Legal status of volost courts (the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries).

On the basis of regulations, scientific literature, archival documents and statistical materials the legal status of volost courts is examined, the historical experience of this institution is studied from the new point of view, its positive and negative aspects are interpreted, and some aspects of its activities are analyzed. The genesis of peasant courts in Russia is researched, their succession with volost courts is presented, and their role and purpose according to the peasant reform of 1861 are examined. The legal status of volost judges including age and educational qualifications, moral and professional qualities of applicants are revealed. The procedures of election and assumption of office of volost judges, the procedural rights are reproduced. Guarantees and compensation for volost judges and their legal responsibilities are presented. The volost courts jurisdiction is analyzed, its evolution is investigated. On the basis of the documents and archival materials the procedural form in the volost court is presented, including the ratio of law and custom, motives for court examination, kinds of evidence, the procedure of appealing and enforcement of volost court decisions, inspection of its activities.