Abstract: This article is dedicated to the characterization of the organization and personnel of the investigative branch of the Yekaterinburg Local Court throughout the period of its existence (1874-1917) in the context of development of investigative body of the Russian Empire of the reformation period. The article addresses the issues of evolution of the organizational structure of the investigative body of this period, differentiation of investigative posts, emergence and development of the system of investigative sectors, establishment of investigative sectors on the territory of Central Ural, as well as number and personal characteristics of the of the investigators of the Yekaterinburg Local Court during 1894-1916. The work presents the generalizing information on the social and ethnic origin, family ties, age, education, professional experience and social status of the investigators of the Yekaterinburg Local Court during 1894-1916. The author concluded that unlike during the Soviet era, there were no structured special divisions that united the investigators (investigative departments) in the branches of reformed Russia. There was also no position of a head of the investigators that was part of the court’s personnel. Similarly, there was no division of administration of the investigative branches (investigative division or department) throughout the period of 1864-1917 even in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Justice.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the systematic re-creation of the events of biography of a prominent figure of the judicial branch of the Russian Empire and the originator of the Soviet criminalistics V. I. Gromov. His life path is examined in the context of the era: based on the establishment of the investigative body of the imperial Russia, post-revolution paths of imperial investigators, policy of the Soviet authority with regards to “former people”, conception and initial development of the government apparatus of the Soviet Russia. The author poses questions on the mysterious moments in the biography of V. I. Gromov. During the course of this research lot of new details about his life and work such as the precise date of birth, the circumstances of his service in the judicial branch of the Russian Empire, his pedagogical activity at the Moscow State University are being revealed. The author makes the conclusion, that V. I. Gromov realized his professional potential in both, practical and scientific-pedagogical areas; he was able to responsibly and faithfully serve Russia during the imperial, and later, the Soviet time.