Dómsvaldið

Dómsvaldið, or the judiciary, is the branch of government in Iceland responsible for interpreting and applying law. Its primary tasks include adjudicating civil, criminal, and administrative disputes, protecting fundamental rights, and upholding the rule of law. The system operates independently of the legislative and executive branches, in accordance with the Icelandic constitution, which vests judicial power in the courts and guarantees their independence.

Iceland's courts are organized in levels: district courts (héraðsdómstólar) handle the majority of cases; a Court of Appeal (landsréttur) hears appeals from the districts; and the Supreme Court (Hæstiréttur Íslands) is the highest court of appeal. The courts apply statutes, regulations, and constitutional principles to resolve disputes and to interpret the law when questions of constitutionality arise.

The administration of justice is supported by the Office of the State Prosecutor, which prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the state, and by public defenders and legal aid arrangements that ensure access to counsel for those who cannot afford it. Judges are appointed through a formal process intended to maintain independence and tenure; they are insulated from political interference in their judicial decisions.

The Icelandic judiciary also safeguards fundamental rights, due process, and equal protection under the law, and it interacts with other branches to review administrative decisions and resolve disputes involving government action. In practice, constitutional interpretation is carried out by the courts, with the Supreme Court providing the final interpretation of constitutional questions within the Icelandic legal order.