judicial proceedings

The article analyzes the reasons for the procedural violations in the election of people’s judges in Leningrad in 1950 and 1953. In both cases, the election campaigns were repeatedly postponed, a practice that was no longer permitted from the mid‑1950s onward. As a result, the significant shortage of qualified legal personnel became even more severe. The postwar restoration and development of Leningrad led to an increase in citizens’ lawsuits filed with the courts (especially in civil cases). The improper conduct of judicial election campaigns, which consequently prevented the timely establishment of new judicial districts, had detrimental effects, including not only delays in court proceedings but also a considerable number of judicial errors. The procedural violations in the election of people’s judges were driven by political reasons: in 1950, due to the campaign to purge the party-administrative apparatus related to the so-called “Leningrad Affair”, and in 1953, the death of I. V. Stalin created a situation of uncertainty for the city leadership. In both instances, the city authorities had reason to exercise additional caution in selecting candidates for the position of people’s judge.