starostynskyi

— The courts of elders, starostynsky, were the earliest, as has been mentioned. They were competent to hear cases of servitude princes, boyars and minor nobility, and held sessions in the towns and castles, and in the residencies of the starosty. With the creation of the office of the voyevoda, governor, these officials, subordinate to the elders, began to preside over the starostynsky courts, along with the starosty, while the derzhavtsi, the holders, were called to judge in business and economic matters.