Supreme Court of Norway

The Supreme Court of Norway ( Bokmål: Norges Høyesterett; Nynorsk: Noregs Høgsterett ) in Oslo is the Supreme Court of Norway, was established in 1815. This was based on Article 88 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway, which prescribed an independent judiciary. Besides its function as a last resort for civil and criminal process, it also checks the legality of actions of the Cabinet as well as the constitutionality of parliamentary decisions.

Function

The Supreme Court is the highest court in Norway. In his role as an appellate court may only decide on cases which were previously in district courts ( tingrett ) or regional courts ( Lagmannsrett ) were negotiated. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has the prerogative to decide for themselves which appeal cases will hear it. These are usually cases of fundamental importance, such as to set regulatory standards for lower courts, but also for the actions of the Supreme Court itself

For Norwegian citizens there is no right to be heard by the Supreme Court, because the assumption is that the universal human rights articles is satisfied to a fair trial by the lower courts.

Structure

The Supreme Court is led by a Chief Justice, which protrudes 20 judges. Current Chief Justice Tore Schei since 2002.

A committee of three judges decides which cases are to be negotiated. The same committee also decides on procedural issues contested decisions of lower courts.

A normal case, the Supreme Court decided by five judges. However, the Chief Justice may direct that all judges hear the case. Such plenary usually treated fundamental issues or cases which could alter its own precedents.