The article is devoted to the study of the history of the Nalchik Mountain Verbal Court and the specifics of its functioning in the context of the judicial system of the Terek Region in the second half of the XIX – early XX centuries. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need for a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms of legal integration of mountain societies into the administrative and judicial system of the Russian Empire, taking into account their ethno-confessional specifics and legal traditions. The paper focuses on the political and legal prerequisites for the reform of the judicial system in the North Caucasus, including the institutional transformations that began with the formation of the Terek Region and the introduction of a system of military public administration. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the consideration of the Nalchik Verbal Court not only as a judicial body, but also as an important mechanism of legal adaptation designed to combine the norms of Adat, Sharia and Russian legislation. The paper analyzes the regulatory framework for the creation of mountain courts, the specifics of their jurisdiction, procedural powers, as well as the problems of their functioning, noted in the scientific literature. The methodological basis of the article includes historical, legal and systematic approaches, as well as elements of comparative analysis. It is concluded that the Nalchik Mountain Verbal Court has become a transitional model of justice, ensuring the legal transformation of the region without forcibly breaking the traditional order. The results obtained allow for a new understanding of the nature of judicial reform in the Caucasus and its implications for local communities.