Hovioikeuden

Hovioikeus, or the Court of Appeal, is a intermediate court in the Finnish judiciary. It serves as the second instance in the appeal process, reviewing civil and criminal cases that have been decided in district courts (käräjäoikeudet). In addition to ordinary civil and criminal appeals, hovioikeudet handle certain administrative and other specified matters referred from lower courts. Decisions of the hovioikeus can generally be appealed further to the Supreme Court of Finland with permission (valituslupa).

Finland has several hovioikeudet, located in different regions. The main courts of appeal are found in Helsinki, Turku, and Vaasa, each serving its respective jurisdictional area. The courts operate with professional judges and, in some cases, lay judges, and they issue rulings after hearings or on the basis of written submissions. In criminal matters, the hovioikeus re-examines both the facts and the law unless the case is limited to legal questions.

The hovioikeus plays a central role in ensuring consistency and accuracy in Finland’s appellate process. Its procedures emphasize written submissions and, where appropriate, oral hearings. Rulings from the Court of Appeal can modify, uphold, or overturn district court decisions, and they may remand cases back to a lower court for further proceedings.

Historically, the concept of an appellate court in Finland has roots in the Swedish-era legal system, with the modern Finnish hovioikeus structure developed within the framework of Finland’s contemporary judiciary.