Staffing of Soviet justice authorities in the Kola North during the 1920s (analyzing the materials from the Murmansk region)

The formation and personnel composition of Soviet justice authorities in the Kola North have received limited attention in the existing scientific literature. Nonetheless, understanding these aspects is important for further research. This article examines the personnel situation that emerged during the establishment of Soviet justice institutes in the Kola North in the 1920s, utilizing fragmentary archival material from the State Archives of the Murmansk Region. Specifically, it examines the composition of the initial Soviet local justice authorities, such as the Murmansk District Bureau of Justice, Arkhangelsk Provincial Department of Justice, Murmansk Provincial Department of Justice, and the courts. It also investigates the level of competence and education of the staff, as well as the challenges that hindered their professional activities. The article concludes by reflecting on the influence of the region’s challenging social and geopolitical circumstances during the studied period, which resulted in the hiring of personnel lacking proper education, relevant qualifications, and work experience in specialized institutions. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of adapting specialists sent from other regions. Notably, the process of staffing the justice agencies of the Kola North with specialized professionals and establishing local training initiatives only began to take shape in the 1930s.