Lagmannsrett

Lagmannsrett, often translated as the Court of Appeal, is the second instance in the Norwegian judiciary. It reviews decisions from district courts (tingrett) in civil and criminal matters, and also handles certain administrative and procedural appeals. A decision from a lagmannsrett can be brought to the Supreme Court of Norway (Høyesterett), but only after obtaining leave to appeal, i.e., permission to prosecute the case further on points of law or significance.

Jurisdiction and scope are regional. The lagmannsrett serves as the intermediary appellate forum for large portions of Norway, with several regional courts located across the country. Its role is to reexamine both the factual and legal aspects of cases where the parties believe there has been a legal or factual error in the district court. In criminal cases, the court may conduct new hearings or review evidence as part of its judgment, while in civil cases it typically reviews the legal issues and the application of law to the facts established in the tingrett.

Procedural framework and composition are designed for appellate review. Lagmannsretten operates with professional judges who form panels to decide cases. Decisions are issued in written form and published, contributing to case law that guides future litigation. The court also ensures consistency in the application of Norwegian law across its districts.

Etymology and context: the term lagmann derives from historical Norwegian legal administration, where a lagmann was a local official or judge connected to a “lag” (a legal framework). Lagmannsretten thus symbolizes the organized, regional appellate review of lower court decisions within Norway’s judicial system.