Annotation

The article examines the constitutional and legal substance and significance of the institution of magistrate justice within the judicial system of the Russian Federation. Special attention is given to the analysis of the amendment to Article 118 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which formally included magistrate judges as a constitutionally recognized element of the judiciary. It is demonstrated that the constitutional reference to magistrate justice is not merely declarative but establishes a higher standard of requirements for judicial independence, professionalism, and the quality of justice. It is emphasized that the constitutional status obtained by the institution of magistrate justice imposes a duty to embody the values of the rule of law, implementing the ideas of legality and justice in their practical dimension.