The Institution of the Court in Modern Russian Society: The Problem of Public Trust

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the problem of trust of Russians in the judicial system. The court is considered as a social institution that regulates the legal and social order. Its institutional features and stages of institutionalization of the modern Russian judicial system are highlighted. The methods of sociological analysis of dysfunctions of the Institute of the court are presented. The approaches to the definition of institutional trust are considered, and its types are highlighted. The article presents an analysis of public assessments of the judicial system, as well as ratings of international research organizations that characterize public opinion regarding the activities of the courts. The author suggests measures to strengthen the authority of the judicial system in the public consciousness of Russians. The question is raised about the need to conduct interdisciplinary research on trust in the judicial system, as well as to involve the professional community, educational institutions, the media, public and human rights associations in the discussion on this issue.