Burlaw court, Russian: Товарищеский суд (verb. "court of comrades") was a special form of collective justices of peace that existed in the Soviet Union. Burlaw courts were elected for the term of two years by open voting of working collective members, and were entitled to consider minor offences and to impose fines up to 50 Soviet rubles (compared to the average monthly salary of 120 rubles) or to pass the case for consideration to courts of justice. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union burlaw courts were no longer elected and were finally abolished by adoption of Russia's new Criminal Code in 1997.

Similar institutions existed in Europe, e.g. in Napoleon's army.

[edit] References

• Филиппов Е. И., Комментарий к Положению о товарищеских судах, М., 1972
• Товарищеские суды, М., 1974

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