Supreme Court of Norway

Supreme Court of Norway Høyesterett
Established	1815
Jurisdiction	Norway
Location	Oslo
Coordinates	59°54′51.63″N 10°44′40.19″E
Authorized by	Constitution of Norway
Number of positions	19
Website	www.domstol.no
Chief Justice
Currently	Tore Schei
Since	2002

The Supreme Court building in Oslo

The Supreme Court of Norway (in Norwegian Norges Høyesterett) 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. In addition to serving as the court of final appeal for civilian and criminal cases, it can also rule whether the cabinet has acted in accordance with Norwegian law; and whether the legislature has passed legislation consistent with the constitution.

The Supreme Court of Norway is Norway's highest court. It has the entire kingdom of Norway as its jurisdiction. It is a court of appeal, i.e. cases can not be brought before the court if they are not tried in a district court and in most cases also in a regional court of appeal. Nevertheless, its primary role is not simply to be yet another hearing of the case that has been heard by two independent previous courts. The Supreme Court therefore has the prerogative to decide itself which cases it shall hear. This leads the court to hear cases of principal importance, where clarification is needed or where standards need to be set. Rulings set substantial precedence for the lower courts as well as the Supreme Court itself.

As a subject to Norwegian law, one has no right to be heard in the Supreme Court, as the universal Human Rights article on a fair trial is believed to be satisfied with the district courts and the regional courts as courts of appeal.

The Supreme Court has a committee consisting of three judges that decides what cases shall be tried in the Supreme Court. The same committee decides in procedural questions appealed from the lower courts.

A normal Supreme Court case is decided by five judges. However the chief justice can decide that all judges hear the case. Such "plenum-cases" often involve fundamental questions or cases that might alter the Supreme Courts own precedence.

The court is chaired by a Chief Justice with eighteen judges. The current chief justice is Tore Schei.

List of judges

Further information: List of Justices in the Supreme Court of Norway

See also

• Supreme court
• Appeals Selection Committee of the Supreme Court of Norway

References

External links

• The Supreme Court of Norway