From June 28, 1996 to July 2000, M. Narikbayev served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During this period he supervised reforms in the judicial system. The legislation concerning the judicial system and the status of judges was improved under his supervision, and the measures to improve the material and technical condition of the courts and to strengthen the role of the judiciary in the system of separation of powers were taken. Steps to strengthen the status and independence of judges and to reduce their workload were developed. The Supreme Court was relocated and started its work in the new capital. The institutionalisation of the judicial community was an important area of work. In December 1996, the First Congress of Judges of Kazakhstan was held, the Union of Judges of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its permanent bodies were founded, as well as the first issue of the magazine of the Union of Judges ‘Tura Bi’ was published. During the work of Maqsut Narikbayev as Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the judicial system were able to fully experience the state's concern, which also manifested itself in enhancing the judges' status. Today, the judges being financially secure and receiving decent salaries is, indeed, one of the merits of M. Narikbayev, who endeavoured to eliminate the influence of corruption on the judicial system of the Republic. He proposed the principle of setting the salaries of judges based on a ratio of percentage to the salary of the Chairman of the Supreme Court.

Such issues as the creation of jury trials, the establishment of juvenile, tax and other specialised courts, the protection of judges, witnesses and victims, the strengthening of judicial control, and the separation of the administration of justice from judicial administration have been addressed at the legislative level.

Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Maqsut Narikbayev has played a key role in the formation of the judicial system as a separate and independent branch of government. He significantly contributed to the creation of an independent and efficient judicial system.

It is also worth mentioning that Maqsut Sultanovich was a supporter of introducing the Institute of Peace Magistrates in Kazakhstan. He believed that in this matter it is possible to rely on the experience of domestic history, in particular, on the well-known court of biys. Biys were elected by the region's population to consider and resolve various kinds of uncomplicated and non-socially dangerous cases. The main function of biys was to reconciliation of the parties, rather than to deprive a person of liberty. Today this issue is relevant and expedient, as conciliatory procedures are being introduced into judicial proceedings to resolve disputes and at the same time bring the case to trial.

Upon the initiative and with the participation of Maqsut Narikbayev the project of the monument of three famous Kazakh biys of the XVIII century - Tole bi, Kazybek bi and Ayteke bi was created, which is installed near the first building of the Supreme Court in the capital. Later on, based on his proposal, a scholarship named after the Three Biys was established at KAZGUU, and one of the classrooms of the university was named in honour of the great Kazakh figures.

During the M. Narikbayev’s chairmanship of the Supreme Court of the Republic, the legislation on the judiciary introduced universally recognised principles of international law, as well as enshrined the basis for ensuring the independence of judges in the pursuit of justice.

М. Narikbayev repeatedly emphasised that the most important aspect, alongside the independence of judges, was to ensure strict accountability of their activities to the state and society.

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