Hovioikeus

Hovioikeus is the Finnish name for the Court of Appeal, an intermediate appellate court in Finland’s judiciary. It hears appeals from district courts in civil and criminal matters, as well as in some administrative cases. The court reviews decisions for errors of law and, within its jurisdiction, may reassess the facts presented in the district court; it can uphold, amend, or overturn a lower court’s ruling.

A typical hovioikeus operates in three-judge panels, with larger formations for particularly important or complex cases. Its regional courts are located in several cities across Finland, reflecting the decentralized structure of the Finnish judiciary.

Decision by the hovioikeus can generally be appealed to the Supreme Court of Finland, but only a portion of cases are granted leave to appeal (valituslupa). The Supreme Court typically limits its review to points of law rather than re‑evaluating factual findings. Hovioikeudet thus serve as the main second‑instance forum for most civil and criminal cases, while the district courts remain the first instance and the Supreme Court the final appellate authority.

In the Finnish legal system, the hovioikeus sits between the district courts (käräjäoikeudet) and the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus), ensuring uniform interpretation of law and providing a mechanism for correcting errors in lower court decisions.