Ottoman 1882 Court Document Armenian Lawyer - Muslim Citizen Armenia Garabed Giurdjian Istanbul

Ottoman Court Summons Issued to Garabed Giurdjian, Representative of Ahmet Nazif – Istanbul, 24 January 1882

Description:

This original Ottoman Turkish legal document, titled “Bidayet Mahkemesi Birinci Davetiye Varakasıdır” (First Summons Notice of the Court of First Instance), was issued under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs (Adliye ve Mezahib Nezareti). Dated 12 Kanun-ı Sani 1297, corresponding to 24 January 1882, the summons was addressed to Gürciyan Karabet Efendi (Garabed Giurdjian), acting as the representative of Ahmet Nazif Efendi in a legal case brought by Kadir Efendi.

The document instructs the recipient that the case was to be heard at the Second Civil Court on Monday, 18 Kanun-ı Sani, at approximately six o’clock, and requests that Ahmet Nazif Efendi or his legal representative appear at the appointed time. The summons provides a direct glimpse into the procedures of the Ottoman civil courts in the late nineteenth century, including the formal notification of parties and their representatives.

The document is particularly notable because Ahmet Nazif Efendi was represented by Garabed Giurdjian, an Armenian Ottoman subject, illustrating the role of professional legal representatives in the empire’s multiethnic society. Giurdjian is associated with the early history of the Ottoman legal profession and the founding period of the Istanbul Bar Association, established in 1878. Historical accounts identify Karabet Gürci among the members of the association’s early governing committee, making this document especially interesting in connection with the development of modern legal practice in the Ottoman Empire. 

The surviving seals and revenue stamps add to the document’s historical and visual interest. As an original court summons bearing the names of the parties, the representative, the court, and the hearing date, it offers a tangible connection to Ottoman judicial administration and the developing legal profession in the late nineteenth century. It is an appealing piece for collectors of Ottoman legal documents, Armenian-Ottoman history, and the history of the judiciary.

Key Features:

• Document Title: Bidayet Mahkemesi Birinci Davetiye Varakasıdır (First Summons Notice of the Court of First Instance)

• Issuing Authority: Adliye ve Mezahib Nezareti (Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs)

• Date: 12 Kanun-ı Sani 1297, corresponding to 24 January 1882

• Legal Representative: Gürciyan Karabet Efendi (Garabed Giurdjian)

• Represented Party: Ahmet Nazif Efendi

• Opposing Party: Kadir Efendi

• Court: Second Civil Court

• Hearing Details: Scheduled for Monday, 18 Kanun-ı Sani, at approximately six o’clock

• Document Details: Formal summons requiring the appearance of Ahmet Nazif Efendi or his representative

• Additional Features: Official seals and revenue stamps

• Historical Context: Ottoman judicial administration, the development of the legal profession, and cooperation among different communities within Ottoman society

• Region: Istanbul, Ottoman Empire