The structure of the Courts of Justice in Norway is pyramidic and hierarchic with the Supreme Court

Supreme Court of Norway

The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...

 at the apex. The conciliation boards only hear certain types of civil cases. The District Courts are deemed to be the first instance of the Courts of Justice. Jury (High) Courts are the second instance and the Supreme Court is the third instance.

In addition the King has the right in the Council of State to pardon criminals after sentence has been passed. This right is seldom used and always by the elected government in the name of the King.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is Norway's highest court of justice and the instance of appeal for verdicts handed down by courts of a lower level. The court is situated in Oslo. The decisions made here are final and cannot be appealed or complained against. The only exception is for cases that can be brought before the Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...

.

The Interlocutory Appeals Committee of the Supreme Court

Three of the Supreme Court judges form the Interlocutory Appeals Committee. This committee has to agree that a case is to be brought before the Supreme Court.

Courts of Appeal (Lagmannsrett)

The country is divided into six appellate districts. Each Court of Appeal is headed by a senior judge president and each Court of Appeal has several appellate judges. The courts are:

• The Borgarting Court of Appeal
  Borgarting Court of Appeal
  Borgarting Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Oslo, Norway. It serves the counties of Oslo, Buskerud, Østfold and southern Akershus. The court has 62 judges and 45 administrative staff...
  
   in Oslo
  Oslo
  Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
  
  .
• The Eidsivating Court of Appeal
  Eidsivating Court of Appeal
  Eidsivating Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Hamar, Norway. It serves the counties of Hedmark, Oppland and northern Akershus. In addition to Hamar, the court may meet in Lillehammer and Eidsvoll...
  
   in Hamar
  Hamar
  is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
  
  .
• The Agder Court of Appeal
  Agder Court of Appeal
  Agder Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Skien, Norway. It serves the counties of Aust-Agder, Telemark, Vest-Agder and Vestfold. The court has 21 judges and 13 administrative staff, including a director...
  
   in Skien
  Skien
  ' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
  
  .
• The Gulating Court of Appeal
  Gulating Court of Appeal
  Gulating Court of Appeal is a Norwegian Court of Appeal.-Jurisdiction:Gulating Court of Appeal is based in Bergen, Norway. Gulating Court of Appeal holding many hearings in Stavanger and also maintains permanent offices in the Stavanger Courthouse....
  
   in Bergen.
• The Frostating Court of Appeal
  Frostating Court of Appeal
  Frostating Court of Appeal is a court of appeal located in Trondheim, Norway. It serves as an appeal for the district courts in the counties of Nord-Trøndelag, Sør-Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal....
  
   in Trondheim
  Trondheim
  Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
  
  .
• The Hålogaland Court of Appeal
  Hålogaland Court of Appeal
  Hålogaland Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Tromsø, Norway. It serves the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. In addition to Tromsø, the court may meet in Bodø and Mo i Rana. The court is administrated by the Norwegian National Courts Administration.From the Middle Ages,...
  
   in Tromsø
  Tromsø
  Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
  
  .

District Courts

The District Courts (Norwegian: Tingrett

Tingrett

In Norway, the district court is the first court instance, and handles both criminal and civil cases. The ruling of the district court may be appealed to the next level of court, the court of appeal....

) are the first instance of the Courts of Justice. There are 83 District courts.

Conciliation Boards

A Conciliation Board is allocated to each municipality. Each Conciliation Board consists of three laymen and an equal number of deputies elected or appointed by the municipality council for terms of four years. Conciliation Boards are to mediate between disputing parties and are widely authorised to pronounce a verdict. The majority of civil disputes are resolved by the Conciliation Boards. Conciliation Boards do not hear criminal cases, and the participation in their hearings are voluntary.

Special Courts of Justice

There are special courts that hear or process issues not covered by the District Courts:

• The Industrial Disputes Tribunal: This court deals with cases pertaining to labour legislation, for example wage disputes.
• The Land Consolidation Courts: Their main task is to find acceptable solutions for ownership disputes and issues concerning correct land usage.

External links

• Main site for the courts of Norway