CHAPTER 12. -- The Judicial Process for the Patriarch's Various Chancellery and Palace Court Officials and Peasants. In It Are 3 Articles.

1. Grant a trial immediately at the patriarch's palace court in any cases against the patriarch's chancellery and palace court officials, and deti boiarskie, and peasants, and people of all ranks who are living on the patriarch's household estates because during the reign of the previous sovereigns, and during the reign of the great sovereign, Tsar, and Grand Prince of all Russia Mikhail Fedorovich of blessed memory they did not grant a trial against them in any of the chancelleries. They tried them at the patriarch's palace court, [where] the patriarch hears and resolves judicial cases [himself].

2. If the patriarch's chancellery officials in any case give a verdict against a just litigant, and give a verdict to an unjust litigant, in response to bribes, or out of friendship or enmity: those people against whom verdicts are given against the evidence shall petition the sovereign against such patriarchal chancellery officials. In response to that petition, transfer the disputed cases from the patriarch's chancelleries to the sovereign and to all the boyars.

If it is established that the patriarch's judges gave a verdict against someone against the evidence: compile a decree for such patriarchal judges for their injustice like the one decreed for the sovereign's judges.

3. When the patriarch's chancellery and palace court officials, and deti boiarskie, and patriarchal peasants proceed to sue any people in any of the chancelleries in any cases, and the defendants, not leaving the trial, proceed to file a counterclaim against them in the same chancelleries: grant a trial against them in those same chancelleries.