Nobility of the Kievan palatinate and the problems of judicial organization in the second half of the 17th century

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s nobility attached great importance to the proper functioning of the judicial system, and the administrative issues of the justice system were among the principal matters discussed in the dietines. They were of particular importance to the Kievan nobility during their exile in the second half of the 17th century. The article discusses the statutes aimed at providing them relief during that period. The one of major importance was the act of 1683 that established county courts in the Owrucz and Żytomierz counties. The latter was carried into execution only in 1701. The same statute also prescribed the duties of the castle officials responsible for holding courts in Żytomierz and Owrucz. The article also discusses the issues of judicial administration in the Kievan palatinate and the proposals for the judicial reform raised by the dietines (especially between 1661 and 1667), which were only carried out in 1684, when the Kievan and Owrucz sheriffs were sworn in.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s nobility attached great importance to the proper functioning of the judicial system, and the administrative issues of the justice system were among the principal matters discussed in the dietines. They were of particular importance to the Kievan nobility during their exile in the second half of the 17th century. The article discusses the statutes aimed at providing them relief during that period. The one of major importance was the act of 1683 that established county courts in the Owrucz and Żytomierz counties. The latter was carried into execution only in 1701. The same statute also prescribed the duties of the castle officials responsible for holding courts in Żytomierz and Owrucz. The article also discusses the issues of judicial administration in the Kievan palatinate and the proposals for the judicial reform raised by the dietines (especially between 1661 and 1667), which were only carried out in 1684, when the Kievan and Owrucz sheriffs were sworn in.