Domstole

Domstole, or the courts, form the judiciary of Denmark. They interpret and apply Danish law, decide civil and criminal cases, and resolve administrative and family-law disputes. The system operates independently from the legislative and executive branches and is funded by the state. Judges are appointed and decide independently within the framework of the law; court decisions are subject to appeal under statutory rules.

Structure and jurisdiction: The core structure consists of byretter (district courts) as the first instance; landsretter (high courts) as the intermediate appellate courts; and Højesteret (the Supreme Court) as the highest court of ordinary jurisdiction. The exact number and location of district courts may change due to reforms. In general, decisions from a byrets are appealed to a landsret, and, with permission, to Højesteret. Some cases may be handled directly by the Supreme Court under specific rules.

Administration and procedure: The courts are administered by Domstolsstyrelsen, the Danish Court Administration, while criminal prosecutions are handled by the Public Prosecution Service (Rigsadvokaten). Danish procedure emphasizes public hearings, due process, and equality before the law. The judiciary operates independently of the government in accordance with the constitutional order.

Access, reform, and overview: The Danish court system is designed to ensure accessible justice while maintaining procedural safeguards and judicial independence. The structure is periodically reviewed to improve efficiency, transparency, and public trust in legal processes.