Sevryukov, D.S. The organizational and legal mechanism of empowering people’s judges in the RSFSR during the second half of the 1940s and the early 1950s

Abstract: The article examines the history of adopting the provisions of the “On Elections of People’s Courts of the RSFSR” in the years 1948 and 1951. The norms of the specified acts are analyzed, the main stages of the electoral process for the election of people’s judges are characterized, and the requirements for candidates are highlighted. It is noted that the qualification requirements set forth in the provisions were extended by the Minister of Justice of the USSR by issuing orders. The measures, taken by public authorities and party organizations in order to ensure the proper procedures for the election, are being considered. There is a conclusion that the adoption of acts on electing the people’s judges, playing a significant role in the formation of the status of judges, constituted an important step on the way to achieving effective judicial independence from the executive authorities. The low-skilled part of the judiciary became the reason for increasing the requirements for candidates, which resulted in making changes not only in the Republican legislation, but also in the Union legislation.

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