CAREER WAY OF NIZHYN DISTRICT COURT HEADS (1874–1919)

The effective implementation of the judicial reforms of Oleksandr II in 1864 largely depended on the professional level of judicial staff. Proper organization of the system provided the most important interests and benefits of citizens. The purpose of the article is to outline the conditions of selection, the procedure of acquiring power and to reconstruct the career path of Nizhyn District Court Heads, which was functioning from 1874 to 1919. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, analysis, induction, as well as historical-genetic and historical-comparative methods. Scientific novelty. For the first time the professional profile of the Nizhyn District Court Heads in the mentioned period was formed. Conclusions. Seven persons worked as heads of Nizhyn District Court between 1874 and 1919, including five of them professionally identified. They were citizens of the Russian Empire with higher legal education and people of noble origin. At the age of 21 – 24, they started their careers’ path as acting assistant chiefs, candidates for the position of judges, collegiate counsellors and judicial investigators. The prospect of professional growth served as motivation to change jobs not only within the province, but also in the Russian Empire. They held the following positions in the judicial system: comrade of provincial prosecutor, provincial prosecutor, comrade of district court prosecutor, district court prosecutor, comrade of court chamber prosecutor, court chamber prosecutor, comrade of district court head, district court head. The officials also gained legal experience in the judicial chambers and the Department of the Ministry of Justice. During their professional career they were awarded the following orders for conscientious work: St. Stanislaus of IIIrd, IInd, Ist degrees, St. Anna of IIIrd, IInd, Ist degrees, St. Vladimir IVth, IIIrd, IInd degrees, Medzhid of IIIrd degree, medals: "In memory of the war 1853 – 1856", "For the suppression of the Polish revolt of 1863 – 1864", "In memory of Emperor Oleksandr III", "In memory of the 300th anniversary reign of the Romanov family", award "For impeccable service", sign "Red Cross".  Admission to the ranks of a real state adviser or a secret adviser was evidence that the heads made a successful career as the official. Two persons among heads of the mentioned period have not been professionally identified due to the lack of necessary information in the sources, so the topic requires further studying.